Stooping to Common Ground

Part of the Sonshine interview process this year included a brief paragraph, written out below.

"As a Sonshine Staff you will be a part of a very unique team within a very unique ministry.  Sonshine Staff is made up of 4 different positions.  Team Barnabas, Trainee, Driver, Admin.  Each team plays a unique and decisive role each week to make the camp come alive.  The common ground between each position is found in Philippians 2:3-5 'Do nothing from selfishness or empty self-importance, but with humility of mind let each of you regard on another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for  your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others.  Have this attitude in yourself which was also in Christ Jesus.'"

I had the incredible opportunity to serve as a barney for the off-season trip that went out last week.  The entire Sonshine Staff on that trip could have barneyed, trained, drove, admined that week, but we chose to select roles for each of the Staff on the trip and stick to them.  In all honesty, the roles (methods of Serving) were insignificant compared to the identity (Sonshine Staff aka. Servant!)  

The illusion of grandeur or self-importance in any role (way of serving) is quickly revealed as falsehood and dispelled as we keep our vision focused on Christ's heart of servanthood and discover who we are (servants!)

We find each other in servanthood as we stoop to the ground, pick up our crosses and follow. 

Where are we going Jesus? 

We're going to die.

We're going to the water to die.

We're going to school to die.

We're going back home to die.

We're going to work to die.

Jesus, thank you for always leading me into the fellowship of your suffering and the joyous Life that comes from losing it all.  Don't stop.

-Mike