Once again I am writing this blog using
my phone. It is not the most convenient way to do it, but what can you do? We
are at the mercy of technology now.
I am on my way to help a couple that I am very close to who are in the process of moving into their new home. It has been a long-time dream of theirs, and I am so happy for them.
A few days ago, I attended a leadership training at my church, and I am so glad I did. It was one of those moments when you are in need of motivation and you happen to be at the right place at the right time. I went home with a new sense of purpose and ready to serve whenever I can.
By the way, I am listening to the radio on my phone and this particular channel decided to play tunes from the eighties. Now I am listening to UB40's "red red wine". Do you remember that one?
Anyways, back to my leadership training.
The trainer, who has become a very good friend of mine, had a very interesting definition of servanthood. He said that it is like when you have your hand burning and you have only one blow of air left. As you are about to use the only blow of air you have left to appease your burning hand, somebody comes to you crying for help as his small finger is burning. You have only one blow of air left, and you decide to blow on the other person's small finger while your entire hand is burning. With no air left in you, you then cry out to God to heal your burning hand.
I thought the analogy was funny, but it was also true.
I cannot begin to count how many times
people have come to me asking for help when I also had urgent and desperate matters
to deal with as well. What I found funny about these times is that almost
one hundred percent of the time; I found solutions to their problems but
couldn't seem to find any for mine.
Now it's Michael Jackson's "Man in
the mirror" playing. Great song.
I couldn't help but take notice of this
analogy especially because this was the second time I heard this kind of a
story. A few years ago I was speaking to a well known music producer when he
told me that whenever he worked on another person's music it would always be a
great success, but when he produced his own album no one seemed to be
interested.
My guess is that we
are the kind of people who were born to serve and who find pleasure in seeing
other people succeed. I also believe that it is a great way to sow a seed that
(figuratively speaking), once it grows, will produce great results at the appointed
time. It is this appointed time that I patiently wait for with great
expectation.
Moral of the story? Do you want to serve others? Just do it before your hand burns.
Always a pleasure
Patrick
The Journeyman
Nice, I like it
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