Servanthood

Fortified with increasing inner resources and becoming aware of the many needs in the world outside, caring people naturally begin to wonder what can be done to help. Small steps, such as manning a phone during a pledge drive or making food for the local homeless shelter raises awareness and may lead to more active volunteerism. Deepening involvement crosses normal social boundaries and challenges giver and receiver to make personal connections. Lives on both sides can be changed.

It all starts with the simple steps - seeing a need, listening to a request, filling a gap. If begun as a part of a Lenten practice, the exploratory nature of that new commitment soon gives way to faithful perseverance. Hopefully, the practice goes on past Easter or gives way to a sustainable commitment. With regular effort comes increasing responsibility and deeper levels of caring. It is important, however, that this process is Christ-centered and wholesome in its motivations.

For these reasons, it is advisable that the person giving care regularly evaluate his or her feelings and actions. Feelings because they are central to maintaining long-term healthy relationships and actions because they hint at subconscious factors.

Feelings are natural and unavoidable and often uncontrollable. They demand to be expressed and will erupt in most unpredictable ways if suppressed. Better that they be channeled into acceptable forms of expression, that they at least be given voice and preferably be harnessed to bring about desired achievements. Experience informs when feelings can be allowed to run free and when redirection is necessary, but feelings are what they are and no one should be judged for having feelings.

Actions are the ways feelings are expressed and maturity brings choice in which actions are taken and which are denied. Society strongly dictates actions that are acceptable and actions that are unacceptable in nearly all situations. Within those acceptable to society, however, there are a wide variety of choices, ranging from encouraged to ill advised, from rash to considered, from passive to aggressive, from helpful to obstructive. The options are numerous and only a small number can be considered righteous. Those are the ones the Lenten observer seeks.

But this focuses on the actions, on the results seen from without. More important to God's Kingdom are the motivations within. These vary as well, but one critical factor is how servant-like the person becomes. Clearly, Jesus taught His disciples to be servants and He modeled service to the poor and oppressed. Striving to be like Him makes us desire to be servants, too. But not just any servant. Rather we desire to be motivated by love and compassion, to be faithful and devoted, to be trustworthy and competent, and most of all, to be like Christ. These traits are promoted by the Stephen Ministry program, which trains lay caregivers to provide one-on-one weekly Christian care to people who have requested it.

Stephen Ministry makes a strong distinction between servanthood, choosing to help meet another's needs out of compassion and empathy, and servitude, acting to meet expectations or out of a sense of obligation. While elements of both are likely present in any relationship, whether servanthood or servitude is the primary motivation will distinctively shape the form of service and the emotions attached to it. Servanthood blesses both the care receiver and the care giver and draws them closer together. Servitude causes a separation between care receiver and care giver and often results in resentment by one or both parties. Servanthood embodies the Christ-like virtues that are so valued and rare. Servitude is more typical of the capitalistic and legalistic approach, uniform and antiseptic. Servanthood is flexible and adaptable. Servitude is specified and constricted. Obviously, the Lenten observer will be seeking to give out of a sense of servanthood.

While the environment can make things easier or harder, the approach is determined by the care giver. Equal service can be supplied for different reasons, so the care giver is free to choose servanthood over servitude. Or not, but the choice makes all the difference in the world. Servanthood is sustainable over long periods and supports itself for both care receiver and care giver. Servitude eats away at the care giver and care receiver alike, until the relationship is consumed and continuing becomes impossible. It is important, then, that the choice of servanthood be made freely and in the light of Christ's similar choice for us. Only by maintaining that focus is our service made holy and are our efforts consecrated.

May Christ-centered service that is compassionate, trustworthy and faithful be the true expression of your love for God and neighbor.