Packing a bag for a place you've never been

Some of you know that I'm a HUGE fan of U2. I love their way of making me think about faith and social action. One of my favorite lines is, "You're packing a bag for a place you've never been". It seems like each day we are packing that bag...in the way we interact with others, the ways in which we serve others and in the way we help others. We are building our own character as we build our understanding of selflessness and concern for someone other than ourselves and those beyond our own families and our own culture.

Yes, serving others feels good...we all know that. But what if we serve sacrificially? Actually serving when it's not comfortable or convenient. The holidays are coming up and we will see numerous opportunities to serve Thanksgiving dinner to people who wouldn't normally have one and to buy Christmas gifts and take them to that little tree in the middle of the mall. Please do these things; but this year maybe we can see that it doesn't end there. After the prime giving season, make a commitment to continue these acts. Visit a retirement community on a Thursday night. Serve meals at a homeless shelter over your lunch hour. Become a Big Brother or a Big Sister. Make empathy an integral part of your suitcase and let the service flow out of you year round.

I once knew a family who went once a month to a nursing facility...the whole family. The guys took checker boards and challenged the men to a game. The girls took nail polish and gave manicures while listening to the women tell about their lives and their experiences. No talent needed for this friends...just a willingness to turn off the TV, get in the car and do it.