Our Africa team is completing a short booklet of devotions to prepare our hearts for the trip. The devotion I read last night was about adopting the attitude of Christ by serving others in humility. Vanquishing the subconscious attitude of superiority that infects our Western culture. Rather than approaching individuals of a different culture with the mindset that their way is incorrect (or perhaps even morally wrong), a Christ-like disposition would approach others with an open heart and mind, putting love for them first. This requires me to esteem myself less and honor the person that I’m serving as greater than myself, regardless of their life circumstances.

Pondering an attitude of humility brought to my mind an encounter that I experienced when The River, my faith community, served the homeless in downtown Indianapolis several summers ago. After the larger group dispersed for the evening, several of us drove into a less safe part of the city to hand out water and whatever food items we had left. I’m sure by divine providence, we came upon a community of individuals whose homes were cars, campers, and other vehicles congregated in an abandoned parking lot. We walked around handing out provisions and talking to whomever would interact with us. Most people were friendly, but several folks hung back in the shadows. I remember talking with a young girl and her boyfriend, and as I handed her a water, I shook her hand in greeting. A common gesture that I did without thinking. Yet it wasn’t so common to her. Her eyes lit up, and a smile graced her previously-guarded features. She instantly became more open toward me in her demeanor. It struck me in that moment that what seemed commonplace to me was a sign of respect that she likely didn’t often experience. Rather than conveying a posture of pity for her circumstances, that singular small gesture seemed to almost affirm our common humanity– the desire to be valued and respected. It was a humbling moment for me to realize that until that moment, I had been subconsciously thinking of her as more of a “charity project” than as an individual who just wants the same things I do– respect and love.

Matthew 20:28 says, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” In “The Divine Embrace,” Ken Gire says that this sentence sums up the life of our Lord. Gire says that Jesus’ life was not about expressing himself, exalting himself, defending himself, advancing himself, or enriching himself. Rather, it was about emptying himself. Every day, to everyone he met. I may not be able to perfect that heart disposition in this life, but I pray that through His strength and empowerment, I can live each day a little more like Him by choosing every day to empty myself for others, even in seemingly small ways.