Has a question ever told you something important about yourself?
Last time I said I love questions (God And Tough Questions). That doesn’t mean the questions are always comfortable or that I’m happy with my responses.
Encouraging real questions means embracing uncertainty and imperfection. When you work with adolescents you learn that you often have to reconsider a spontaneous reaction. Here’s an example: What If I Want To Fly?
One of the really enjoyable aspects of my public speaking gigs is Q&A time. Recently someone asked a great question that I sort-of answered at the time.
Out of all the people who helped with your recovery, how did you select the characters you included in Relentless Grace?
Wow. So many people helped and supported me, put up with my miserable attitude, and stuck with me when I tried so hard to give up. What an insightful question—what distinguished the handful whose stories make up this amazing story?
I could be flippant and say I included the most memorable or outrageous incidents. That would get a chuckle from the audience, and I guess it’s partly true. But as I thought more I recognized a more significant distinction.
Help or Serve
Thinking back through the story, I noticed what I perceived as a difference between “help” and “serve.”
Lots of people helped. They carried stuff and fixed stuff. They did things for me that I couldn’t do for myself. I appreciate all of it, though I sure didn’t show it at the time.
But it seems like “helping” comes from a position of strength and superiority. You’re bigger and stronger, you have more resources, and you’re willing to help.
Help seems to involve dependence—I need your help because you have something I don’t. I can’t do it without you.
Service feels different. A servant willingly accepts a position of weakness or inferiority. Consider Jesus washing His disciples’ feet (John 13).
Here’s a beautiful video of this demonstration of service. (If you can’t see the video, click here.)
I’m not sure that helping and serving always look different from the outside. I think it might be less about what happens and more about the heart behind it.
I don’t think Jesus came to help me, even though I need all the help I can get.
I think He came to serve. I think that’s what it means to follow Him.
Do “helping” and “serving” seem different to you? Do you see yourself as helper or servant?
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