Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Friday, January 1, 2016
A Year to Serve
"Serve" was my "one word" of 2015. The word put on my heart to guide me through the year.
As I reflect on the year I am tempted to look at the months and days and ask whether or not I was "successful" in "accomplishing" my one word. If I look at it through this lens I am tempted to say that I failed. Just as my sister-in-law who inspired this word claimed at the end of last year, "I'm not very good at it." I didn't become a missionary or give away all my belongings; I didn't take on a position at the church or adopt a child in need; I didn't wash anyone's feet.
On the other hand, God isn't in the business of condemnation, so I know my perspective must be wrong. Instead of asking what I accomplished -- as if "serving" is a task to check off my daily to-do list -- what if I asked, "Did I try?" and "Have I grown?" In other words, what if "to serve" is a journey of becoming, a language rather than an act.
The answer to that is a definite "yes." I've learned to look at the world through the lens of serving. I'm able to recognize more readily when I'm thinking more of myself than others. I have loved my husband more and better this year than the previous one. I have been more intentional about living according to my priorities, putting God first in all things, from my daily routines to my writing to my heart.
If you too are focusing on the places you failed last year, I challenge you to change your perspective. Remember that life is a journey and while we'll never achieve perfection, our willingness to try is what makes us a success.
Thank you for walking alongside me in this year to serve. As we enter the new year, I'll leave you with this quote from Martin Luther King, Jr., in which he says that at the end of his life he doesn't want people to say that he achieved anything, but that he tried:
As I reflect on the year I am tempted to look at the months and days and ask whether or not I was "successful" in "accomplishing" my one word. If I look at it through this lens I am tempted to say that I failed. Just as my sister-in-law who inspired this word claimed at the end of last year, "I'm not very good at it." I didn't become a missionary or give away all my belongings; I didn't take on a position at the church or adopt a child in need; I didn't wash anyone's feet.
On the other hand, God isn't in the business of condemnation, so I know my perspective must be wrong. Instead of asking what I accomplished -- as if "serving" is a task to check off my daily to-do list -- what if I asked, "Did I try?" and "Have I grown?" In other words, what if "to serve" is a journey of becoming, a language rather than an act.
The answer to that is a definite "yes." I've learned to look at the world through the lens of serving. I'm able to recognize more readily when I'm thinking more of myself than others. I have loved my husband more and better this year than the previous one. I have been more intentional about living according to my priorities, putting God first in all things, from my daily routines to my writing to my heart.
If you too are focusing on the places you failed last year, I challenge you to change your perspective. Remember that life is a journey and while we'll never achieve perfection, our willingness to try is what makes us a success.
Thank you for walking alongside me in this year to serve. As we enter the new year, I'll leave you with this quote from Martin Luther King, Jr., in which he says that at the end of his life he doesn't want people to say that he achieved anything, but that he tried:
If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say…I’d like somebody to mention that day, that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. I’d like for somebody to say that day, that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody. I want you to say that day, that I tried to be right on the war question. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked. I want you to say, on that day, that I did try, in my life, to visit those who were in prison. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)