I’ve been thinking this week about Selfless Service, inspired by the remarkable folks who made FREEDOM TOUR CLASSIC 2025 such a great day.
But it’s a bigger idea, especially juxtaposed on this day when we celebrate “independence” by eating food and shooting fireworks. I’m thinking today how, for many folks, the notion of independence has become a bit one-sided.
The people who founded our country understood that authentic freedom could not exist without responsibility. Freedom, to them, was always communal.
For my generation, President Kennedy issued what became a seminal challenge during his inaugural address:
“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
Many of us took him seriously. Public service, teaching… lots of us sincerely believed those were ways of answering Pres. Kennedy’s challenge.
But, John Kennedy didn’t invent this notion.
2000 years earlier, Jesus said, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
It’s tempting to get comfortable, to sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor and decide it’s time for someone else to sacrifice. Jesus was clear – those of us blessed to live in comfort and freedom have an even greater responsibility.
The people who gave so much to make the FREEDOM TOUR CLASSIC happen inspire me to keep going when it would be easier to back off a bit.
Selfless Service that benefits others is our responsibility.