Nobody is too good for the meanest service. One who worries about the loss of time that such petty, outward acts of helpfulness entail is usually taking the importance of his career too solemnly.
We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions. We may pass them by, preoccupied with our more important tasks, as the priest passed by the man who had fallen among thieves, perhaps - reading the Bible. When we do that we pass by the visible sign of the Cross raised athward our path to show us that, not our way, but God's way must be done. . . .
Only where hands are not too good for deeds of love and mercy in everyday helpfulness can the mouth joyfully and convincingly proclaim the message of God's love and mercy.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. "Life Together." San Francisco, CA.1954: Harper Collins. pp 99, 100
Bonhoeffer refreshed me yesterday with this reminder of true humility. Could it be that the last sentence is the reason that our witness is so often lacking in power?
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