Throughout recorded history ordinary people have been placed in extra-ordinary situations. These people have been called to lead, follow and even been sacrificed for “who” they serve; a selfless act of courage, fear and at times ignorance. The underlying principle is that they believe in some ‘thing’, this is “why” they serve. To serve does not mean to become a slave or a mindless puppet for which some authoritarian figure or invisible deity has control or influence of undue burden over you. It means that you can humble yourself to allow a cause, action or deed to be performed, tarried or conveyed.
To do the “will of God” is to start with a neutral heart, have no will of my own in regard to a given matter, seek guidance through the (Holy) Spirit with the Word combined, and take into account providential circumstances (George Müller 1805-1898). To do the “will of the people” (as stated in the Declaration of Independence) is to represent with the consent of "the people" and execute the concerns of "the people" to the best of your ability. The purest example of service is a soldier in an all volunteer army. He or she is willing to accept their mission regardless of circumstance and they are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice with the hope that an idea based on principle will be realized even in their absence; this is blind faith in their fellow soldier and cause that the fight will continue.
Everyone is not going to be a servant. For many the idea of being “told what to do” hearkens of weakness and ineptness. But when you frame “service”; someone is for some reason incapable or unwilling of carrying out a task so it is you the “servant” who is now the “master” of the situation. This is not a concept easily digested, circular reasoning can continue to baffle a simple mind; but an open mind (it’s [the mind] like a parachute if you don’t open it won’t work) can see clearly that servitude is not only power, it is Christ-like (Christian).
My treatise here is to invigorate, revitalize or encourage those who are contemplating service (i.e. public, private or national), been chosen to serve or been relieved of serving. To know why you serve and who you serve will forge your character. It will strengthen your perseverance, focus your zeal and bestow the crown of humility upon you. To serve is to “love your neighbor as you love yourself”.
Your servant,
Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com
