Introduction: Occasionally I write short pieces of fiction, especially when I believe they can powerfully confront us. The following story is not based on any true events, but rather on a personal knowledge of myself! It can be easy for us to justify a selfish focus, and miss the greater good around us. Open your spiritual eyes as you read this story.

Bethany and Britta

The little silver Jetta sped down the road towards the city. Its driver, Bethany, tried to relax as she absorbed the peaceful silence permeating the car. She was on her way to attend a ladies’ Bible study at the local frozen yogurt shop, and all morning she’d been hurrying, hurrying, hurrying, to get there on time. But one thing after another had unexpectedly put kinks into the schedule she had carefully crafted for the morning. Her neighbor needed help to move some furniture around; her aunt called to ask for tips son how to sew a certain kind of dress sleeve; the little boy she’d been babysitting dumped olive oil onto the heirloom quilt while Bethany had her back turned; and two minutes before she was ready to leave, there was a mess to clean up in the bathroom where the toilet ran over.

“Lord, are you trying to teach me patience or what? I really wish you would have let me have a peaceful morning…but I think you’re trying to teach me to value needy people more than my idealistic schedule. Yet it’s a struggle to be a selfless servant at all times when it cuts into a really good activity like a Bible study.”

Bethany’s tense muscles began to relax as she approached Bloomsville. Maybe she could actually be on time after all!

Oh no…her heart sank to her toes. Up ahead on the side of the highway, a little white haired lady feebly struggles to change the flat tire on her car.

Fighting the urge to complain, “Lord, again?“, Bethany pulled her car to a stop right behind the woman. “Ma’am, could I help you with that?”

The sleek white car puffed down the road to Bloomsville. Inside, its driver Britta tried to tune out her keyed-up feelings by listening to up-beat worship music. Oh yes, this song! Britta cranked the volume up. She loved the message of this song about humility and serving. The male singer’s voice crooned passionately, “Loving puts us on our knees, serving as though we are slaves. This is the way we should live for You.” Britta felt a deep satisfaction as she contemplated the powerful lyrics. Yes, servanthood. She couldn’t wait to share with the girls at the Bible study how God had been working this truth deep into her heart. Why, just this morning, she’d heard her little boy Aaron say something that showed she was passing on this principle. He and his sister had been having a tea party with Madeline’s dolls, and when he snatched the teapot away from Mandy, he said, “Mommy said if you want to be like Jesus, you got to serve! That’s what I ought to serve the tea.” Britta wished that Aaron’s serving might be done with a little more discretion, but at least she was passing something on.

And when her aging mom called on the phone and wondered, couldn’t she please run a few errands for her this morning? Britta said, “No, I can’t; I’m studying my notes on servanthood for the Bible study class I’m teaching at ten o’clock. I’m sorry, I don’t have time.” That showed she had her priorities right.

Britta’s tense muscles began to relax. She might be on time after all.

But what was that car doing parked beside the road, with that old woman tottering around it? She didn’t have time to waste on an absent-minded granny anyway; the lady was probably so old and addles she didn’t even know what she was doing there. Britta looked into the rear view mirror as she sped past, feeling justified that the silver car behind her was stopping beside the old woman’s car. After all, the other driver probably had nothing better to do with her time–not like Britta, who was on her way to teach the servanthood Bible study class!