Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Confessions of a Non-Servant

I have a confession to make: I just don't like some people. I know that's a terrible thing for a Christian to say, but it's true. There are some people I just don't want to be around. I don't have anything against them, personally; they just bother me.

I wrestle with this constantly. Why can't I be more like my friend, S, who loves everyone. She not only loves everyone; she is constantly thinking of ways to serve people. She's already offering someone a ride to the grocery store while I'm still trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing.

Or, why can't I be more like my friend, A, who has the biggest compassionate heart I've ever seen. When I complained to her recently about some people I encountered at the park, she said, "Well, maybe they had a rough day today and needed someone to give them a smile." Boy, that cut me down to size.

I just don't understand. I know God wants me to have compassion for others, and I know God wants me to serve others, but that's not the first thing that comes to my mind when I encounter people.

If you're like me, then we have a lot to learn this semester. I promise to keep an open mind and to seek the Spirit's guidance as we contemplate what it means to be a Christian servant. If you'll do the same thing, then, hopefully, we'll be better servants when it's all over.