Scripture standout: 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service...6 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
Morning thoughts: So each part — every body in the world — is equipped for works of service? Is that why we're here? To build ourselves up in love for each other? Then why do works of service feel like such unnatural, often burdensome, sometimes painful acts? After more than 50 days of making a practice to do at least one good deed a day, do I still argue with myself about which deeds are worthy and which are not? Why do acts of service take so much practice if we're naturally equipped with it? Why is that service gene so hard to hard to harness?
The Deed/The Day: Woke up wanting to make sure I deeded before I went to the dentist. Me no likey the dentist. I like dentists, on a personal level. The ones I've had have also been friends. But they make me nervous and sweaty when I'm sitting in their exam chairs. Especially when they approach my face with scrapers and drills. Not knowing whether I'd awake from the "lost time" of my six-month cleaning exam, I deeded before 9 a.m.: wrote an email thank you note to a friend who shared Sunday afternoon with us at lunch and the beach; then wrote a "safe travels" email to my mother-in-law who is en route back to Jacksonville from the Bahamas; wished to friends happy birthday on Facebook. Done. Fine.
By this afternoon, I wondered if those deeds weren't done to quickly. Maybe email is nice and all, but maybe it's not as — personal. So I wrote a letter this afternoon to my mom's best friend and cousin in Texas. MBF&C helped me out so much after my mom died. She was there as a support and mom stand-in during my Texas debut and she was on the scene when wedding planning took center stage. When children came, she remembered birthdays and sent Christmas cards. We still get together every now and then when a Texas visit is in the cards. I know I've told her a million times how much it meant to me that she did many of the things for me that Mom would have done. But it can't hurt to say it again! So I wrote her a letter saying so. Gratitude is a deed, I think.
In other news, Osama Bin Laden is dead. Special ops offed him in Pakistan late last night. People all over the world are saying this is one of the best and biggest deeds that's occurred in a long while! I agree on many levels, but I'm not so sure killing someone is akin to deeding — even if it is the world's most hated man. Let's just say it's good he's gone.
I think it is because of our disease - sin. Our bone marrow wants to take care of ourselves and "be the boss of me."
ReplyDeleteServing outside of ourselves is like being left handed but choosing to write with our right hand.
It is in stepping into that awkwardness that we trust Jesus with the details and practice the act of submission to His will.
The reward is a long dialouge and friendship with the creator of the universe.