I often tell my children: "Look for that person in your class who doesn't have any friends...and be their friend." I would love to instill in them an others-centered giving attitude. Most of us are normal and not social outcasts. It can be easy for us "normal people" to get caught up in petty things, like materialism and consumerism and popularity hunts, and then start acting (maybe in very subtle ways) that we are better than others. Perhaps we think our fashion sense is better or we have a better taste in music. Somehow we make small unimportant things dividing walls between us and others. We don't have to be friends with everyone, but it would be a better world if we just did our part and loved people (especially those deemed "unlovable"). It's not easy, and rewards may not be very visible, but sometimes certain things are worth it just because. Take, for example, someone who is so sick or ill that they can't move, can't speak, can't thank you for feeding them, reading to them, or caring for them. Does that "lack of visible reward" make it less of a service, less of a good thing to do? Of course not. Sometimes we give, period. It's unconditional love in action.
I have a definition of love that I like: "Love is a commitment to serve no matter what."
Paul reminds the believers in 1 Corinthians that, "Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth ('before you were called,' that is). But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him."
On a slightly unrelated subject, I like the simple adage, that the "strong should help the weak." If we have any strength, confidence, power, we should use it to help others. When we are down, we'd sure appreciate having someone stronger help us. Think about it...
The website has been updated with new content. Be sure to check out the interview with Dog the Bounty Hunter.