Service

Yesterday, a friend called and asked if I could come help someone in our neighborhood move everything out of their house that night.  They were being evicted and had done virtually nothing to prepare for what they knew had been coming.  Now, if the people in the neighborhood didn't help, they'd lose everything.  Not that they seemed to really care, but Emily, who has helped them despite all, sees through rationalizations that I, myself, make and will do right no matter the work or the time sacrificed or the seeming complete uselessness of the effort.

Between the time Emily called in the afternoon and the time we were to show up at the house that evening, I thought about those things.  I really did not want to go.  I also knew that although service has the power to change me and make me more like God and for those reasons and more I should jump at the chance for service, if I went with a bad attitude or if I couldn't serve out of love, service would do none of those things for me.  I even thought of the scripture, "If ye have done it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me."  But I tend to think of that scripture in terms of people who are crying out to Him for help, and He sends us to answer those prayers.  I was pretty sure that these neighbors wouldn't see our work tonight as God's help.  So, again, if God hadn't sent us, what was the point?  I resigned myself to go and have a bad experience.

While I was there, though, my feelings changed.  There were many unpleasant things about the experience, some expected, some not, but I was surrounded by good neighbors who had also responded to Emily's call.  We actually, incredibly, got their possessions completely out of the house and to the storage unit in a little over two hours.  I realized that while I hadn't loved the neighbors being evicted well enough to have my heart in the right place, I realized that I had actually come to help Emily and that could act as a bridge.  I could serve out of love for Emily or for the other neighbors who'd come to help and would go home earlier when I helped or for the neighbor who had rented them the house and needed them out.

I want to remember three lessons from the experience:  1) That there are in every situation, more than one set of people being served.  Look for the ones who it is easier to love to help you serve with a loving heart.  2) I realized as I wrote this, that also, incredibly, I felt love for the neighbors being evicted while I served last night!  I sure didn't in anticipation of the event.  They didn't help much last night and they didn't thank me in particular, but I felt a compassion for them that I hadn't before.  This, perhaps, is the greatest gift of the night.  I've been taught many times that serving someone creates a love in you for them.  I must not have believed it before because I am surprised by it today. . .and humbled. . .and grateful.  Which brings me to 3)God did want us to help those neighbors.  He loves them and would help them if He were here no matter how little their behavior changed or never changed. 

Despite my misgivings, I did come closer to God by serving last night.  Again, why am I surprised?  God has shown me once again that He keeps His promises!