Passport control in Vietnam is simple and easy to understand. You apply and obtain a visa before you make your trip. You arrive and present your passport to an official who verifies your details online. Unless you have something to declare, there is no additional paper work. As I approached the passport control, I always find myself pleasantly surprised by the efficiency in what most people see as an undeveloped country.
The officer examined my passport carefully. It was more than a job. He enjoyed what he was doing. I began to see the whole person and realized his shirt and uniform was neatly pressed. His shoe shined, reflecting someone who took the time to care for them. Even the 4 starts on his applets were polished!
As I reflected on the professional image, I wished I could ask about his childhood. Where did he come from? What were his early days like? Who instilled the discipline and belief that his actions reflected?
I imagined it was from humble beginnings. The pride his took in his work did not reflect a arrogant heart. It was as if an old wisdom father was commenting on him and his friends. “Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of ‘the brightest and the best’ among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families.” (1 Corinthians 1.26, 27) Whatever his beginnings were, the care and attention he demonstrated reminded me that I needed to look in the mirror.
Do I understand the honor a calling to making a difference represents? I have the chance to share hope with those that cannot see it. I can be a hand of compassion to others who are struggling to believe that anyone cares. In the moment at hand, I can be a force for making things better.
One’s rank is revealed by the actions and choices one makes that impact others. Hope is leadership. Compassion is wisdom. Making a difference is being part of something more than one’s self.
