Day 27 of Being Real in 2024

 I attended my Toastmasters meeting this morning. I gave a speech (see other post for today) and so did another member, who is a dear Christian man who loves TM far more than I do. His speech was entitled "Leadership Lessons from Making Coffee." We told him he needed to develop into a whole workshop. Being early, attention to details, and knowing who it's about (not yourself) were the three general ideas. 

So appropriate that today I read Matthew 20:20-34. Scenario: John and James Zebedee get their momma, or go along with her doing it, to ask Jesus for prime seats in "the kingdom," like they are just going to sit at a floor show. Jesus tells them they don't know what they are asking. Are they ready for ultimate sacrifices? Oh, we are, they claim. Well, says Jesus, you will meet those sacrifices, but still, giving seats in the kingdom are not my role. 

The other ten are livid at James and John. So it's time for a literal come to Jesus meeting. (Only evangelical Christians in the South have a right to that term, by the way.)

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. ²⁷ And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

This passage is one for self-examination.  A portion of the population seeks, actively, ambitiously, and somewhat shamelessly, to exercise authority over others. Some of them are politicians (not all).  They are not inclined to show up early to be sure the coffee is made. They may tell themselves their goal of power is for others (and it is true that someone has to take those roles), but there is probably some self-deception in that.  

Not everyone's gift is making coffee, but it is everyone's gift to show up early and focus on the details and "come not to be served, but to serve."

 And we should choose our leaders because they live lives of character, not because they make us feel better about ourselves and our prejudices.