I sat on a high table, writing, editing, and making calls. The end of my table was well-lit, clean, and unusually, had convenient power plugs in the centre. It had everything I needed, including a service window right in front. The “but” is that in the hours I worked, I never saw anyone in the window.
Many, including myself, hear a call to service. There is, at the core of who I am, a call to serve. It is an essential part of my life and how I live. I fear that others see my service window as an empty shell – all the signs with nothing to show for it. Life took time yesterday to remind me what service is all about.
Service is not always visible, at least in the way one expects. Across the hours, there were several moments when someone stopped by where I was sitting and asked me if I needed anything. When I responded to the warmth of their voice, the sparkle in their eyes, and the energy they shared, I found myself with whatever I needed. The window may have been empty. My life was not.
In quietness, there is life. The service team was in full flow. Cleaning was underway. The tables were being set for lunch. Preparations were in full swing, even as the service window remained visible empty. The noises I heard were the sounds of fresh fruit drinks being made for special orders. Life may not be what I expected. Life had everything I needed and more.
Beyond my experience and line of sight, there is a team at work. When one does not see service, one cannot assume they know. My experience is a reminder for those who serve as well as for each who receives the gift of being served. I smile as I hear Paul’s words bringing the voices of those we cannot see; “Here are some more greetings from our end. Timothy, my partner in this work, Lucius, and my cousins Jason and Sosipater all said to tell you hello.” (Romans 16.21)
