I’ve spent most of my life in southern California and didn’t see the world famous Hollywood sign until I was well into my 20s. I first saw the sign when I was at a church in East Hollywood. East Hollywood isn’t nearly as glamorous as other parts of Hollywood. In fact it’s fairly impoverished and couldn’t be further removed from the glitz of Tinseltown.
As much as I like walking on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, I prefer serving in that little church in East Hollywood.
This past weekend we took some of our high school students to Hope International Bible Fellowship in East Hollywood. We’ve taken students down to the church before and it’s always a great experience. I love getting our students out of their suburban bubble and giving them an opportunity to serve.
Serving is one of my favorite things, but it hasn’t always been that way. I told our students that I used to be a selfish teenager like them, only concerned about myself and what would make my life easier. However, after many mission trips to Mexico, I realized that I could be a servant even when I wasn’t on a church trip.
At this point in my life I try to think about how I can place the needs of everyone around me above my own. I’m not perfect at it but, for the most part, I try to inconvenience myself instead of inconveniencing someone else.
At home that means taking Elphie out at night instead of making Alycia take her out.
At work that means trying to make life easier for my coworkers, especially when they have busier weeks than I do.
At Target that means putting away my shopping cart so someone else doesn’t have to.
It’s always been easier for me to serve away from home, either at camp or on a mission trip. Jesus doesn’t call us just to serve when we’re somewhere else; he wants us to serve wherever we’re at, especially at home. Our service of those in foreign countries or different cities will always be a little hollow if we don’t serve those we see every day.
What helps you keep an attitude of service?
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