Compassionate Service

Follow Jesus’ posture of humble self-offering so all may experience the Kingdom of God

Jesus came to serve, and give his life away. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said of service, “You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” As follower of Jesus, we strive to adopt service as our primary posture.

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You know how they say “You can’t un-see that”? It’s true: some forms of awareness are enduring.

Gradually, I became aware that anyone can become downtrodden, anyone can be homeless. And then I couldn’t un-see it. Now when I walk among people laying on the sidewalk downtown they are indeed people.

Another thing I can’t un-see is Jesus’ kingdom, where the last shall be first. I can’t un-hear Jesus’ commission to the apostles to serve one another.

These thoughts run through my head when I work at places like Operation Nightwatch. A few days ago some of us served food to 150 people there. As each cold, hungry human came before me, I couldn’t help remembering that God made them purposefully, and that each is dearly known and beloved by their families as well as their creator. I didn’t have to cultivate empathy: it just happened.

So many people had painful-looking red, cracked hands swollen with cold. But also, many looked me in the eye. So many said “Thank you!” And there were those, too, who just couldn’t…they were too worn down, too shell-shocked, maybe too tired of having to say thank you.

I didn’t have time to pray for each one; there was just a sort of mushy prayer-soup going on, and I hope that’s acceptable to God. But that night I felt less angry at the injustices, the lack of mercy in the world. I felt less spoiled. I actually saw myself as a useful, helpful person. And I couldn’t un-see that.

Won’t you join me? Our church offers dozens of ways to be of service…or you can do what I did and bring in your own way :)

Claire Allen