Very challenging chapter in PDL today. Thinking like a servant? The book exposed my selfish nature. It talked about serving many times as a way to get something, whether that's respect or status or returned favor... Wow, that hit home. There was one comment that talked about using times when we are unappreciated, unthanked, and unrecognized -- using these times to practice true servanthood. This is when we are able to vanquish our selfish motives.
I think of times where my wife asks me to do something at the office and it sounds like I'm not appreciated. The last thing I think of (meaning I don't) is using this as a chance to serve. One of the first things I think about is, 'How does this sound to David (in the next office)?' I worry about my status as a man. 'Does this look like I'm not wearing the pants in this marriage?' Instead of caring for my wife's needs, I am consumed by the insecurity of worrying about what others think or how I'm not being properly appreciated. Wow. It's amazing to be confronted with my own shallowness.
I hope next time I have the chance I can act as a servant and not concern myself with how it looks or being appreciated. But as I'm typing this, I can find myself secretly hoping that David or the interns will read this so they'll know and see me acting unselfish and taking this principle to heart. How shallow I am!
:?)
Obviously I've got a long way to go in my journey. Praise be to our Guide and Master!
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at May 17, 2004 07:39 AM