Taking stock on the definition of privilege is an ongoing check. An evolving habit often mandating little expectation on the other side of service, but a high expectation on oneself. I consider a lot of service a privilege. Stopping myself from defining a yoke of service, past privilege only, is a daily practice. When I allow myself to consider service to others anything other than an absolute, humbled, privilege I fall really short of where Jesus has asked me to be. I fall off this work horse constantly, throw my heart back on the saddle, and try to move forward. What is often considered burdensome has the potential to free, expand, or ignite another. I obsess over the "Pull Yourself Up by your Own Bootstraps" adage. Not to further on the miscontrued nature of the well-loved myth, but to knock the head off. My service to others, freely given, speaking only to holding the responsibility of someone else's potential, matters.
My children come to mind, alongside of those much younger than me. I balk at some of the actions others take to further on the interest of others. There is no doubt my actions are regarded in the exact same way. I am more than able to absorb the full amount of responsibility towards others, usually I stand in the way of this vision. A title is a privilege, yet within the scope of any role, we must first define the value. To be a Wife, a Mother, a friend holds an infinite amount of value on the other receiving end. Training our brain and heart to assign a value of privilege over service, first, holds a double amount of infinity. Clearly, what I bear in regards to my kiddos has a near immediate effect or result for their well-being or the wrinkles between my furrowed eyebrows. But, historically, I have been quite choosy with who or what I deem investible. In general, most of us have only made moves or created bootstraps because someone else has invited us to the table. The false adage of pulling or creating anything on one's own must be torn down. But once it is torn down, the rebuilding begins. Attributing infinite value to service builds the bridge to dreams. When we gather our entire self into a space, actively speaking to a life full of abundance, we are closest to maintaining a heart like our Creator. I am not worthy of all of the sacrifice, all of the grace, and all of the unabashed support, I have received over my lifetime. My only responsibility is to freely give, as it all has, so freely, been given.
To influence, to change, to grow someone or something outside of yourself means to actively seek the future. Actively seeking others means placing your wildly important goals at the feet of another's potential. To actively lead yourself and others to the bigger horizon is the greatest service, and the greatest privilege. On this journey we work our ass off, we get no credit, we are handed over no great amount of accolades, but we carry on, because this privilege defines Who We Are. We are gritty, we are resilient, we refuse to stop putting one foot in front of the other, knowing that preparing or working for only a few steps in front of us does not build a bridge of value.
Our horizon is much further and that investible goal is where we keep our eyes set. That goal is bearing a roof over others; an action so steady and resilient. As we traverse through the system, the goal seems impossible in origin. Yet, as no one pulls up the straps of their own boots, so is the truth of service. We do not proceed on our own. We do not bear the weight of all of the world on our shoulders because we are not Jesus. The on-going push and pull of humanity goes on, even so, the privilege of sitting at the feet of Jesus absorbs all of the hardness, softens all of the edges. If we are to be anything, let it be in a context of privilege. Privilege to walk alongside of others and place our whole heart on the saddle.
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