Cambodia - July 15, 2013

[The following post is an excerpt from my journal as I traveled to Cambodia. The inconsistency in the entry title and datestamp is due to limited internet access while I was on the trip. These experiences were documented in real time, and I am posting photoblogs now that I have returned. In order to protect all those involved with the organization that rescues children from sex slavery and works to prevent others from being trafficked, I have intentionally omitted specific names and locations.]

Monday, July 15, 2013 - en route to Cambodia

"To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger." Romans 2:7-8

Honor is such a lost concept.  We so often get caught up in our own lives that we esteem ourselves above others.  In fact, as much as I hate to admit it, sometimes I become so focused on myself that I forget about others altogether.  Why is this on my mind right now?  It's because a question from a flight attendant struck me.  Actually, come to think of it, the question picked up a baseball bat and swung away at the back of my head.  It hit me hard.

What was this awe-inspiring question?  To be honest, it was hardly awe-inspiring to anyone else who overheard it.  It was so basic- a question that doesn't generally warrant a slap to the back of the head.  She simply asked me, "May I do this for you?"

I don't think the question would have had the impact it did if she had left out the final two words.  Sure, I ask for others' permission quite often.  It is 'the polite thing to do.'  However, when I ask, "May I do this?" it generally implies, "May I do this [TO you FOR me]?"  But this particular flight attendant asked with sincerity, "May I do this for you?"  There was no attitude of sarcasm or frustration in her question.  She very well may have felt one of those emotions for one reason or another (wouldn't YOU if you were a flight attendant on a 13-hour flight?!), but she conveyed only honor.

Sure, you can give the argument that she was "just doing her job."  However, I have seen many a flight attendant have much less gusto when it comes to honoring the customers.  In fact, I see a self-centered attitude in other careers as well.  I'm not sure I know of anyone who doesn't get the "Sunday night blues" because they have to leave their weekend behind to go back to work the next morning.  I love my job, and I am not even exempt from often dreading losing the "me time" that the weekend guarantees.

I am quite confident that if I began to approach everything I do from a stance of honoring others, I would start to see things differently- my perspective would change.  So how much of my daily routine is "for me" and how much is "for you?"  I'd say it's time to do some serious reallocation.