May 3, 2001

The Highest Service

we are not called to see our neighbour as we wish

through selfishness feed our needs

through selfishness use our fears

we are not called to see our neighbour as they wish

through selfishness feed their needs

through selfishness use their fears

we are called to see our neighbour as God wishes

in Him to satisfy their needs

through Him to calm their fears

far too often our eyes are like our neighbour’s

suspect

not seeing the full reality

not knowing the demon behind the pain

seeing the need but not the deception

seeing the fear but not the terror

they are lost and know it not

we are found and show it not

and behind us all Satan laughs

but we are called to teach, rebuke, and encourage

endowed the holy power of God

to tear down the walls that

death divides from life

those who oppose him he must gently instruct,

in the hope that God will grant them repentance

leading them to a knowledge of the truth,

and that they will come to their senses

and escape from the trap of the devil,

who has taken them captive to do his will

I realized today that I too often look upon

people selfishly, seeing how they fit into my

life rather than fitting them into God’s.  Text

is from 2 Timothy 2:25-26