“Whatever you are, be a good one.”
Abraham Lincoln
Our youngest son washes dishes at an upscale restaurant in the city where he lives. The other night we took him out to dinner and I asked him, “How’s your dishwashing job going?” You could’ve heard a pin drop. “Dad, it’s not just dishwashing. I’m the executive director of cleanliness and order!”
He went on for the next five minutes about how every type of squeaky clean dish and utensil has its proper place. This way the line cooks and servers always know where to find things. “Proper dishwashing is an art,” said our son Clark, with an unmistakable passion in his voice. “You have to LIKE the dishes.”
His older brother later told me that the head chef raves about how passionately Clark approaches his craft. Apparently everyone knows better than to mess with the flow in his dish pit. “Dude, haven’t you ever played the video game Tetris?!” our son says to the “non-executive” back-up dishwasher.
Such passion for a job many consider a no-brainer is inspiring. It reminds me of Paul’s words to the Colossians:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” — Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
In my Christian service, I sometimes feel like I’m stuck back in the dish pit, doing the same monotonous job over and over. I long to be an “out front” leader, like the apostle Peter, but keep finding myself in the background, like his brother, Andrew.
Does anyone even know I’m back here?
Your job (or mine) in God’s “kitchen” may not be high-profile or glamorous, but somebody’s gotta do the “dishes”. And a good dish washer is like the drummer in a band, says Clark. “As long as he plays, pretty much nobody notices. But watch what happens to the music if he stops.”
Kind reader, whatever the Lord has given you to do, please continue to serve in HIS strength with ALL your heart, mind and soul. And I will do the same.
Your Work in God’s Kingdom Matters!
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” – Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
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