There was a theme that ran through the coronation of King Charles on Saturday- we are here to serve, not be served. I missed most of it live because I was out running and running the dogs, but I happened to catch the Archbishop of Canterbury reference Jesus when I was dropping off Ash and heading out on my run.
Jesus came here to serve, not be served.
We are here to serve, not be served.
How easy it is to believe the world is about us, that everyone is here for us, to make sure we have a good life, that nothing goes bad for us. I could go on and on especially given the pandemic has put us in our bubbles and many people aren’t leaving them (this is most prevalent in a store or while driving!).
I was raised that the world did not revolve around me, that I was not to expect everything was about me. Those felt like cruel lessons as a child, but they have served me well because they have forced me to remember to get up and dust myself off and keep walking. After all, no one is going to pick me up and carry me.
We all have a role to play in this world, this life. We all have something to contribute. Yes, life can be painful. Life is challenging and a variety of other things. But that’s part of the reason we must reach outside and remember that we are here to serve because contributing gives us a sense of fulfillment we won’t find any other way.
Sometimes we are in pain and believe we can’t get off the couch or out of bed. That’s the time when it’s most crucial that we remember we are here to serve– not be served– because that’s what will carry us out of our despair and challenges.
It’s all about reaching out beyond ourselves. The more we do that, the more satisfied and grateful we will be.
After all, we are here to serve, not be served.