Feeling more like a Butler or Maid than a humbled Minster of Faith?
- neliʘ / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
On special occasions your overwhelming search for Insight ignites me into action. Today’s pursuit ended in The Harvard Classics “Dana.” At first I didn’t understand where the Spirit was going with a Novel about Francis Dana, a Harvard student who Sailored on a Merchant Ship while healing from a spat with Measles.[1]
Dana wrote about a Second Mate’s duty as such: “The second mate is proverbially a Dog’s Berth; the crew call him a “Sailors” waiter; he is one who little is given and of whom much is required.”[1] Imagine how blessed it is just to be alive and able to Serve and be Served. Blessed Brothers and Sisters, be obliged to waiter Friends, Foes, and Family while on earth, so there be Cheers and Shouts of joy in Heaven.
“If an Israelite man or woman voluntarily becomes your servant and serves you for six years, in the seventh year you must set that servant free.
When you release a male servant, do not send him away empty-handed Give him a generous gift from your flock, your threshing floor, and your wine-press. Share with him some of the bounty with which the Lord the Lord your God has blessed you. Remember that you were slaves in the Land of Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed You!” (Deuteronomy 15:12-15 NLT)
Before entering into this dialogue I grudgingly watered, scrubbed, and weeded about the Garza’s house; feeling more like a Butler than a humbled Minster of Faith. But in our studies together Jesus constantly points out the importance of Service. For He Washed, Ministered, Cured, and Encouraged others just for the Sake of our Redemption.
[1] Dana, R. H. “Ships Duties.” Two Years Before the Mast and Twenty Four Years after. New York: P. F. Collier & Son, 1939. 16. Print.
