Reaching a hand out

I grew up in the Southern Baptist church. My formative years were spent going to Sunday school and Awana on Wednesdays, reading the Bible and asking questions in class. That last part got me in trouble a few times, and I'm not going to say it was perfect, but it definitely left me with some strong beliefs beyond just a religious foundation.

Service is a big part of the church. The example of the apostles, who gave up everything to follow and serve the Lord and the people who needed them, is held as the Platonic ideal of Christianity. If someone has a need, you fill it. Sacrifice is part of the deal - you give of yourself to help others.

Now, I freely admit that I tend to go overboard a bit with the "giving of myself" part, and will put everyone first ahead of myself. Selfishness is still a really hard thing for me to accept, because my definition of what's "selfish" tends to include what most people consider "taking care of yourself." I'm working on it.

The important part, though, is that one of the main tenets of Christianity, one of the big pillars of the faith, is taking care of those in need. It's something I think a lot of "Christians" forget about, in their rush to keep their ideals and beliefs from being tarnished by outside influences. It's not just about faith, either - it's just being a decent human being.

If you're reaching a hand out, it should be to help someone up, not push them down or shove them aside. And it's perfectly acceptable to keep your hands to yourself if you don't have the strength to help someone up. It's even OK to reach out for help yourself.

Take care of yourselves, friends. The roads a little bit bumpy and dark, but we can make it together.

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