Friends,
I love this verse: "Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others." Philippians 2:4
What an incredible challenge!
I've been traveling a lot lately and spent a good deal of yesterday working in airports, waiting for planes, watching people and losing luggage. I find that airports are an amazing place to watch people.
Many times, they can show you the best and worst of humanity and how people deal with stress.
Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
In the midst of yesterday's East Coast storm, planes were delayed, even cancelled for some. I walked by the Delta Help Desk only to listen to people swearing at one another for saving spots in line for family members in the bathroom.
On one of my planes, after it pulled in and stopped at the jetway (you know, where you get the beep and everyone stands up really fast like they are actually going to move somewhere in the next 10 seconds), I watched one man question a woman's mothering skills because her child was crying and yet another guy helped three older women get their bags down from overhead.
Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
In the lost bag line, there was panic and blame hurled at the poor woman at the counter. While at the same place with the other attendant, there was laughter that the airport service was going to have to drive a bag one hour north of Toronto.
Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
On the way home in the car, we saw several cars off the road and at each one, someone else stopped to help push them out.
Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
Maybe you are going to be traveling today? If you are, you can just about guarantee that things aren't going to go exactly like you planned.
Or maybe you're going to work? Or to dinner with your family? Or to a doctor visit? Or to the game to watch the kids? Or into that conversation with the person who is driving you crazy? Or into a new relationship?
I don't know where you are going today...I'm not even quite sure where I am headed. But I do know this, expect the unexpected! Expect a bit of change and uncertainty. Expect to be in community with other people trying to roll with the same punches.
Can each of us today take up the challenge from Philippians?
Can we "let each of us look not to our own interests, but to the interests of others?"
Lord, help me stay focused on the big picture and in the midst of the stress, commit to the interests of others. Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
