England has, in addition to rain, changing of the guards, and better theatre, something very different from the United States. It has a class system that people seem to acknowledge and accept. Come from a certain part of the country? Then you cannot expect certain companies to interview you. Speak with a posh accent? Accept most of the people around you to act as if you have an attitude. Go to certain schools? Then you must be posh otherwise you couldn’t afford them!
The attitude towards posh extends well beyond wealth and attitude. Trains have first class sections in them. Certain jobs are considered below one’s station. Clubs have all kinds of discriminatory criteria which they still apply in order to maintain the “standards”.
My purpose in writing about this is not to comment on the classes but rather to make an observation. If you or I believe that we are better than someone else we begin to behave that way. This includes certain jobs or roles as they relate to others as well as who and where we associate with people. Beyond being sad or upset, I would like to gently point out that if one holds any shred of this type of attitude then one is inevitably going to miss out on some of the greatest opportunities in life found in serving others.
We cannot always be all things to all people. It isn’t bad that “this one sows, that one harvests,” (John 4.37) it is just a fact. The question is more basic. Am I willing to sow? Am I willing to harvest? Am I willing to do any job that brings compassion, mercy, and love to someone around me, even if, or especially if it is merely one of being a servant? P.G. Woodhouse’s character Jeeves got the real role in his relationships because it is al about service and servant leadership!
Life is full of great highs and deep valleys of despair. In the midst of all that we face the greatest opportunities come when we are able to serve another.
