I was paralyzed in the year 1990. Seems like just yesterday. I spent six months in a hospital for rehabilitation. Hard to believe that it was that long ago. Crazy to think that I have lived a majority of my life in a wheelchair. For a year or two after I was dismissed from the hospital, I would return for check ups. Re-evaluations. To see how my body was responding to paralysis. I should probably go do it again sometime soon. To learn how to grow old in a chair. But anyways, each time I went there I learned more about life with a disability.
One of my first return trips I went solo. The girl I was dating at the time drove me to Springfield, Missouri. That’s where my flight was out of. We were just a minute or two late to board the plane. Not much. But enough that they had already closed the main door into the plane. But to their credit, they found a way to get me onto the plane. Let’s just say that it involved a forklift, a pallet, and going into the side door where they loaded the kitchen items. It actually was pretty cool. They went out of their way to lift me up. To take care of me. To serve me. And that was awesome.
That’s what we are called to do. We are called to lift others up. To serve them. I think that one of the greatest examples of doing this took place on the final night that Jesus was with his disciples. And I fully believe the lesson he was teaching them is what we’re talking about right here. Lifting others up. Serving others. Lowering ourselves below them. How did he do this? Jesus washed their feet. He lowered himself, raised their legs and feet, and washed them. I am certain this was not simply to wash feet. I am certain that he was teaching them one more time. Showing them that the proper way to serve others is to lower theirselves below those they are serving. By lifting them up. So today, look for opportunities to lift others up. Actually, every day, look for opportunities to lift others up. Look for a ways to serve others. And do so because Jesus loves us. He loves everyone. And so should we.
