What does it look like for me to wash another's feet? Sometimes it mean offering to hold a crying and fussy baby so a mother can eat. Sometimes it means clearing the dishes...when the dirty dishes aren't yours.
Sometimes it means volunteering your time to help another who is swamped with work. Sometimes it means doing a little extra at your job without getting paid for it-and that is where I failed today. I was in a school library today, because I had two hours of free time while subbing for another teacher at the school. I did some work in the library to help out. I am an unemployed librarian...so I know library work. I did a little cataloging, book processing, and I showed the new aid a few things. The new library aid is in her second week of work at the school and she knows almost nothing about library work. The librarian has had almost no time to show her how to do things...and the aid is not a quick learner. I only had to work until 11:00 today...and left promptly at 11:00. It has occurred to me that I should have volunteered some time to help out. It would have been washing her feet. I didn't have to be anywhere, I just wanted to go home and eat lunch. Oh I hate it when I am so humanly selfish.
Aside from that I have ample opportunity to wash the feet of those around me every day.
The things Jesus did were the most menial of everyday tasks, and this is an indication that it takes all of God’s power in me to accomplish even the most common tasks in His way. Can I use a towel as He did? Towels, dishes, sandals, and all the other ordinary things in our lives reveal what we are made of more quickly than anything else. It takes God Almighty Incarnate in us to do the most menial duty as it ought to be done.
Jesus said, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (13:15).
How can I wash someone's feet today? How can YOU wash someone's feet today? (and do it willingly without complaint) Sometimes we have to plan for it, other times opportunities can come upon us unexpectedly.
We have to go the “second mile” with God (Matthew 5:41). Yet some of us become worn out in the first ten steps. (Right after I finish this post, I am going to email that librarian and offer her my help.)
Photo: Statue of Christ washing the feet of saint Peter ( 18th century ), by Giovanni Giuliani.-taken by Wolfgang Sauber. Wikimedia Commons
No comments:
Post a Comment