The world tells those that
are seeking a deeper personal understanding to go out and find themselves. To
set out on a such a mission is a misguided, self-centered concept, fraught with
dangerous experimentation. Very often it involves exploring chemical
substances, permissive sexual behaviors, extreme sports and/or poor life
styles. Notice how these choices that seem to hold out a promise of finding
one’s self also include addictive practices which bring instead unsuspected and
unbelievable consequences. Misery, loneliness, hopelessness and pain are often
the rewards.
Many people who set out on a quest to find themselves unfortunately find they have lost themselves in the very process.
The Lord’s council on the
other hand is to “ Lose ourselves in his cause of serving others”.
Matthew 16:25 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
He also promises us that in
the process, we will discover ourselves. The only thing that can help us understand
ourselves better, which is really what “ finding ourselves” is supposed to
mean, is serving others.
Alma 37: 34 “Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.”
Through this process, we
discover that no matter how poorly off or mistreated we believe ourselves to
be, there are others who are worse off. No matter how little we may think we
have to offer, there are others whose needs are much greater – and they
desperately need us to share. Only when we serve others do we find those who
need us to reach out and include them in our lives.
The happiest people, no matter where in the world they live, are those who lose themselves serving others, while the most miserable people in the world are those obsessed with helping themselves.
———————-//——————–
John 12: 24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. “
This is a very baffling
statement unless you know something about plant biology.
Every seed that is ever
planted in the ground goes through a special experience very like a ritual sacrifice.
First the seed’s physical composition changes. As it begins to sprout, the seed
becomes itself a food source for the emerging sprout. The tender sprout is
totally dependent on the seed to sustain it until it can develop its own
independent root system. By the time the sprout has become a little plant with
independent roots, it has used up every last bit of resources the seed
contained. And the seed has died. This is the sacrifice demanded of the seed if
it is going to produce a new plant. If the seed is not prepared to die, it must
then live alone, because there is no other way to produce another like unto it.
The sacrifice of one seed, brings to life many seeds which in turn yields many
thousands more that bear the same future responsibility.
You can perhaps anticipate where Christ was going with this analogy. He was referring to the sacrifice he himself was about to make: He offered his life so that we may live.
If
he did not die, we would not have eternal life. He would not have fulfilled the
measure of his own creation and we would all be doomed to remain physically and
spiritually dead forever,
We know he fulfilled all
that The Father required of him. His offering was enough and it was accepted.
If Christ gave the ultimate offering so that we could have life, what is required of us in return? Surely we also, must be required to make an offering to fulfill the measure of our creation. What sort of an offering should it be? Perhaps the real question is: “What offering will be enough?”
———————-//——————–
Years ago I met a man and his wife in Montreal. They had a beautiful and talented daughter who went away to university in Utah to complete her education. While there she met a young man from her hometown. He offered to give her a ride. Unfortunately, his careless driving caused an accident in which she was killed and he was badly injured.
Her grieving parents went
to Utah to make arrangements to have her body returned to Montreal. While
there, they learned the young man was still in intensive care. They could have
just ignored the situation. Or they might have visited him to vent their grief
and anger. After all, it was his fault that their daughter was gone.
They did neither.
Instead, when they found
out that the young man had no family, no insurance and no money, these parents
paid his outstanding bill, and brought him back home with them.
For months they bathed his
wounds and changed his bandages. They fed him and encouraged him through his
guilt and grief, while still suffering from their own. After almost a year,
they discovered the service they so humbly offered to this boy, had healed
their hearts in the process. They had laid their offering on the alter and it
had been sufficient.
———————-//——————–
Each of us has a mission or
purpose. It absolutely involves service. We may not discover what it is until
we are deeply involved in it. Our offering will be enough when, by our nature
and our faith, we rise to fulfill that presented need.
If we serve where ever and
whenever we are called, spontaneously, eagerly and with joy, then surely it
will become part of our nature to do so always. Then we will have become what
he wanted us to be.
The hymn
suggests:
“It may not be on the mountain height
Or over the stormy sea,
It may not be at the battle’s front
My Lord will have need of me.
But if, by a still, small voice he calls
To paths that I do not know,
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:
I’ll go where you want me to go.”
(Text: Mary Brown, 1856–1918)
May I add…
I’ll do what you want me to do, dear Lord,
Whatever may be your request.
I’ll serve with my heart and my soul ’till you say,
“My Child, enter in to my rest.”
Our offering becomes enough when we give all we have.
-Doug Garrett
