I have yet to forget one of my favorite TV shows -- in fact it isn't one of my favorites, it is my favorite (Above "Touched By an Angel," though it was great, and "Promised Land," a show which made me long to get in a silver camper and travel with my family, too.) -- "The West Wing."
"The West Wing" had a great run of 7 seasons on TV and acquired many loyal fans. (I even know of one couple who named a precious daughter after one of the characters.) It was a witty, intelligent, fast-paced, incisive, and sometimes humorous look into what running one of the world's greatest nations might be like. The characters, with their various personalities, talents, and foibles, faced many personal and political battles. They fell down and made many mistakes, but they triumphed, too. They created new policies, wrote new laws, helped each other, and even dreamed of what the nation could become.
As I watched week after week I was impressed by their passion, their knowledge, their courage, and their confidence. Sometimes these characters wavered or were lost. Sometimes they let others down, but in no way did I ever see any of them fully give up or run away (for very long, anyway.). One thing that struck me about the characters was, no matter what personal or political battles they faced, they always came to work. In bad weather. After having no sleep. While needing to face consequences for actions of the previous day. With tough tasks ahead. Missing holidays with family.
The work wasn't easy, but they served a common purpose, had a common goal, created and incited a common passion in each other, and strove to work to the best of their ability under one man, the President of the United States.
There is one phrase I can't seem to forget from the show, "I serve at the pleasure of the President."
Why am I telling you about this? Why does it deserve space on my blog? Smiles. Well, since you ask so nicely, I'd like to share with you:
I've been doing some reading in 1 Peter that brought this show back to mind. 1 Peter 4:10-11, in a Greta paraphrase, states that we've all been given gifts and talents to serve one another and whatever gifts we have and use should be done so by the power of the Father, for the glory of the Father.
There are other passages that mention gifts, e.g. Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, smiles, but those focus primarily on the unity and diversity needed in the body while this passage gives me a reminder that I often need.
On one hand, I feel no greater pleasure than when I am able to serve others. Whether it be by spending time with them, listening to them, helping them, encouraging them, etc., I try to do what I can to love on others. My joy is full and I am at peace when helping.
On the other hand, I often get tired. As much as I love people, I really enjoy quiet time spent in solitude and silence. Anyone who knows me knows I can spend hours alone with a book or two. They know that I have little fear of going places by myself or of doing things alone. They know that I need that time alone to prepare me for the time when I serve others.
But I've gotta be honest. If I don't have that time alone, I can grumble with the best of them. My unders get all twisted and I can pout. I know. I know. You never thought it of me, but it's true. No paragon of goodness sits in writing before you.
It seems that I often forget that I don't serve in my own power, but by the power of the Almighty Father. My strength is not my own. My goodness doesn't come from me. My love, thankfully, doesn't cover only what I can cover on my own. The Maker of all things sent His Son to be my example, to give me strength, to draw me close to the Father so that I lean not on my own power but the power of the Spirit that resides in me.
I wanted to share with you a short clip from "The West Wing" that moved me:
What I'd really like you to notice is what begins to happen at about 1:26: Each member of the staff reaffirms their commitment and honor to work at the pleasure of the President.
The fact is, I serve Someone far greater than the President and not only do I serve Him, but He gives me His strength to do it when times are tough.
So here's my reaffirmation and my reminder that I don't do this alone:
May I never forget that I do nothing on my own, but can and should always lean on the Mighty Father whose shoulders are strong enough to carry the weight of the world, whose heart is compassionate enough to love all things, and whose lap is big enough to hold any child who needs rest and reassurance.
His peace and love to you all!
"The West Wing" had a great run of 7 seasons on TV and acquired many loyal fans. (I even know of one couple who named a precious daughter after one of the characters.) It was a witty, intelligent, fast-paced, incisive, and sometimes humorous look into what running one of the world's greatest nations might be like. The characters, with their various personalities, talents, and foibles, faced many personal and political battles. They fell down and made many mistakes, but they triumphed, too. They created new policies, wrote new laws, helped each other, and even dreamed of what the nation could become.
As I watched week after week I was impressed by their passion, their knowledge, their courage, and their confidence. Sometimes these characters wavered or were lost. Sometimes they let others down, but in no way did I ever see any of them fully give up or run away (for very long, anyway.). One thing that struck me about the characters was, no matter what personal or political battles they faced, they always came to work. In bad weather. After having no sleep. While needing to face consequences for actions of the previous day. With tough tasks ahead. Missing holidays with family.
The work wasn't easy, but they served a common purpose, had a common goal, created and incited a common passion in each other, and strove to work to the best of their ability under one man, the President of the United States.
There is one phrase I can't seem to forget from the show, "I serve at the pleasure of the President."
Why am I telling you about this? Why does it deserve space on my blog? Smiles. Well, since you ask so nicely, I'd like to share with you:
I've been doing some reading in 1 Peter that brought this show back to mind. 1 Peter 4:10-11, in a Greta paraphrase, states that we've all been given gifts and talents to serve one another and whatever gifts we have and use should be done so by the power of the Father, for the glory of the Father.
There are other passages that mention gifts, e.g. Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, smiles, but those focus primarily on the unity and diversity needed in the body while this passage gives me a reminder that I often need.
On one hand, I feel no greater pleasure than when I am able to serve others. Whether it be by spending time with them, listening to them, helping them, encouraging them, etc., I try to do what I can to love on others. My joy is full and I am at peace when helping.
On the other hand, I often get tired. As much as I love people, I really enjoy quiet time spent in solitude and silence. Anyone who knows me knows I can spend hours alone with a book or two. They know that I have little fear of going places by myself or of doing things alone. They know that I need that time alone to prepare me for the time when I serve others.
But I've gotta be honest. If I don't have that time alone, I can grumble with the best of them. My unders get all twisted and I can pout. I know. I know. You never thought it of me, but it's true. No paragon of goodness sits in writing before you.
It seems that I often forget that I don't serve in my own power, but by the power of the Almighty Father. My strength is not my own. My goodness doesn't come from me. My love, thankfully, doesn't cover only what I can cover on my own. The Maker of all things sent His Son to be my example, to give me strength, to draw me close to the Father so that I lean not on my own power but the power of the Spirit that resides in me.
I wanted to share with you a short clip from "The West Wing" that moved me:
What I'd really like you to notice is what begins to happen at about 1:26: Each member of the staff reaffirms their commitment and honor to work at the pleasure of the President.
The fact is, I serve Someone far greater than the President and not only do I serve Him, but He gives me His strength to do it when times are tough.
So here's my reaffirmation and my reminder that I don't do this alone:
"I serve at the pleasure of the Alpha and Omega of the Universe, the One who created, continues, and guides all things. I serve not by my small power, but by the greatest power the world has ever known -- power that conquers death, hell, depression, frustration, hurt, and any other thing that may come against it."
May I never forget that I do nothing on my own, but can and should always lean on the Mighty Father whose shoulders are strong enough to carry the weight of the world, whose heart is compassionate enough to love all things, and whose lap is big enough to hold any child who needs rest and reassurance.
His peace and love to you all!
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