Wednesday, June 24

Today’s Readings: Psalm 69:16-36; 1 Samuel 17:31-49; John 19:35-42; 2 Corinthians 11:7-15; Psalm 59

Several years ago when I was still teaching, I had a teacher friend at the school whom I’ll call Leanne. Leanne and I were alike in many ways. We both loved movies, long walks, reading, and writing. There was just one area of our lives in which we were radically different. It had to do with our approach toward work. Leanne was a big believer in limiting her work only to the duties as spelled out in her job description. I was not. So whenever something spontaneous came up at school, the kids knew who to ask for assistance and who not to. Leanne used to get on my case about being too permissive. In speaking of the school administrators, she would say: “Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile.” I saw things differently. When spontaneous needs arose that I decided to meet, I figured I wasn’t meeting those needs for the sake of the administrators – I was meeting those needs for the sake of the kids. They were more important to me than any narrowly written job description. In today’s reading from 2 Corinthians, I hear Paul taking the same approach toward his ministry with the people that he was called to serve. “Not once during the time I lived among you did anyone have to lift a finger to help me out,” Paul noted. A few sentences later he concluded: “I was careful never to be a burden to you, and I never will be, you can count on it.” Paul’s approach was driven by his realization that he wasn’t just stretching himself for the people’s sake – he was stretching himself for God’s. Perhaps there are places in your life where you feel overly put upon. Maybe you have a rigid co-worker, a demanding family member, or a difficult-to-please neighbor in your life. The next time you receive what you feels is an unreasonable request for help, take a deep breath and ask yourself, “For whom am I about to do this?” How you answer that question might not only influence whether or not you decide to help – it will also shape the attitude with which you go about doing it. Til next time…