Serving Others

I stared at the blank document on my computer. I’ve done it again. I’ve overextended myself. I certainly didn’t have to accept the chairmanship of a nonprofit board, but I had.

Growing up I had often heard about the Martha O’Bryan Center; it had been serving the less fortunate of our community for more than 120 years.
They don’t really need me, I argued with myself. With a great staff and strong supporters, it would continue to prosper. The chunk of time required of me wouldn’t make a huge difference in its operation. Why do I feel called?
These thoughts ran through my mind as I prepared a talk for the board’s annual retreat. I was missing work, my wife Corinne was joyously pregnant, and my son Harrison was scheduled for his first touch-football practice. What have I gotten myself into?

In desperation, I called Christine, a staff member at Martha O’Bryan.
“What message would you like for me to stress?” I asked.
“Brock, if the board members knew what was here for them, they would run to it.”

For them? I thought, leaning back in my chair. For me? What did a charitable organization have to give me and the other board members?
We were prominent folks with big houses, fancy cars and impressive ZIP codes.

I felt a bit of shame then. Happiness isn’t a natural byproduct of wealth or prominence. Happiness comes with serving others. Of course, in God’s clever way, the chairmanship was a gift. God was giving me the opportunity to serve or, as the Bible so aptly points out, to be happy.

Father, help me step past my smaller self and run to the joys of serving Your children.
—Brock Kidd

Digging Deeper: Gen. 33:4–6