Siomai Love in Simple Service

“The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore do and observe whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice…All their works are performed to be seen…They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues…” – Matthew 23:2-6

The scribes and Pharisees had a hey-world-look-at-the good-I-do-and-honor-me kind of service. It must have really annoyed Jesus. Just look at his rant in the verses I quoted. But instead of writing about what not to do (the passage cited very clear examples already) let me tell you instead about love and service that create miracles of friendship and camaraderie.

You know that saying, “Big things come in small packages”? How about “Great service is shown in simple acts”? I just coined the second one so it's probably unfamiliar.

Although I just made it up, it’s based on real blessings our Media Ministry experienced the first two Saturdays of this month. We were served with great love by a sister in our community, the mother of two of my members.

On the first Saturday, we planned what was dubbed by the FAMMily (Feast Alabang Media Ministry family) as a meeouting, a meeting/outing (we’re writers, we like making up words) to a nearby resort. Plans were scrapped at the last minute due to bad weather.

Ellen volunteered to prepare our lunch. She cooked food good for an army when there were just 9 of us. We changed our venue to the Feast Alabang Center so she also wanted to feed the other ministries meeting there. That selfless deed was enough to create miracles. The buffet blessed many that day not just with overfilled stomachs but with friendships simmered to full flavor over pans and pans and pans of good food.

On the second Saturday, we organized a Creative Videography workshop. We didn’t plan on serving snacks because the fee was slashed by more than half. She came to the rescue again with her delicious siomai (dumplings) that was more than enough to feed the hungry participants and members.

Her service was done to make others happy. It is not the kind that seeks recognition. It is not the kind that seeks a place of honor – up there in front where everybody can see. It is not the kind that elbows out others just to shine. It is a simple act that served others greatly.

I appreciated her support so much I just couldn’t resist using the word play for my title. I hopia like it.

Stand in the Gap

Sub-title – Guideline # 4: A Servant Leader Protects His People

I’m writing again for my “Manual for Servant Leaders Who Insanely Love to Serve God Despite Harassments and Frustrations.” (If I keep repeating that title it just might stick:))

It has taken me quite some time to write Guideline #4. Maybe because this is one of the hardest things a servant leader must do for his people – stand in the gap. Protect those the Lord has given you to shepherd.

There might be times when someone bypasses you as head and takes your members to task for something they did. There might be times when your group’s wellbeing or interest is compromised. There might be times when a given policy is inimical to them.

These are just a few instances a servant leader must step up to defend his sheep.

It’s so much easier to take the pacifist stance and say, “The Lord will take care of them. Let’s just exercise the virtue of patience.” And off you go to float in your cloud, tinkle a few notes on your harp and twirl your halo.

But remember the bracelet that was very popular among young people a few years back that had these letters, WWJD? (As a matter of fact, teen-agers desired it so much, one or two shoplifted bracelets from our store. They didn’t know the letters stood for “What Would Jesus Do?”)

I asked myself that question, “What would Jesus do in a situation where my member’s welfare is at stake?” I found my answer in the bible:

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” - John 10:11

Jesus will not allow the wolf to decimate his flock. I can picture Him standing between the wolf and us, his flock, holding a shepherd’s rod for protection.

When you stand your ground it sends a signal both ways to your flock (behind) and to the wolf (in front):

1. You will protect your flock. You are there to provide a strong defense.

2. You will not tolerate the wolf’s infraction. He may huff and he may puff but you will not be intimidated.

But also keep in mind that the wolf is also God’s creature and is probably just experiencing memory lapses about that wonderful fact. The wolf might not even be a real one but a sheep in wolf’s clothing who is suffering an identity crisis. The wolf too must be dealt with love. There is no need to fight back or return each huff he hurls.

Calmly stand your ground and let the wolf know he will not be allowed to harm your sheep. It’s the kind of tough love that will not let him self-destruct because he forgets to treat others with kindness.

Actually this course of action requires more love and patience than the pacifist stance I previously mentioned. You will also need a strong will to hold back tongue and temper. But the end result will be good for everyone: the sheep get the protection they need, the wolf gets a lesson in character formation or given an enlightening moment and the shepherd gets to exercise his diplomatic skills.

So here’s Guideline #4 in a nutshell: “Practice tough love with the wolf to protect your sheep.”