I declared the Christmas season of 2010 to be a time of service, setting a goal to perform at least one act of service each day. I marveled at the opportunities for service the Lord placed in my path when I asked for His help in fulfilling my goal.
One afternoon, realizing that I had not yet found an opportunity to serve, I prayed that the Lord would give me eyes to see someone in need.
Shortly after my prayer I got into my car and headed out to get my kids from school. Rounding the corner by my house, I noticed my neighbor had slid off the icy road into a shallow ditch.
Seeing that she was already on her cell phone and knowing that my kids were waiting for me and that I lacked the skills needed to pull her from the ditch, I waved to her with a sympathetic furrow of my brow as I drove past.
“Look deeper.” The spirit then whispered. “What can you do to help?”
Turning my car around I pulled up beside her and asked if I could pick her son up from school.
During the LDS General Conference this Easter weekend (or GenCon as my kids like to call it) I was asked to minister to those in need. I was asked to abandon plans and assignments and to serve as Jesus taught. I was asked to look deeper and to ask myself what I could do to help.
I felt excited about this call and hopeful that I would learn to walk as Jesus walked, succoring the weak, lifting up the hands which hang down and strengthening the feeble knees.
This morning–already elbow deep in my plans for today–I received a phone call. “Would you like to go to the store with me this morning?” I was asked. “It’s senior discount day and I can get you some things if you need groceries.”
“Oh thank you.” I said. “But I don’t really need anything right now and I’m trying to tackle my dirty dishes.”
A few minutes later, understanding pierced my heart and tears filled my eyes as I realized that I had failed to look deeper. I saw my plans for the day, I saw my dirty dishes and I saw that I didn’t really need anything from the store. But what I didn’t see was what I could have done to help.
Had I looked deeper I would have recognized that the offer to take me to the store was really a request. A request made by someone with a lonely heart, looking for company.
Though today I failed to see, I’m still hopeful that God will continue to open my eyes as I learn to walk as Jesus walked, succoring the weak, lifting up the hands which hang down and strengthening the feeble knees.
So if you happen to be free next week, come see me at the grocery store. I’ll be the one getting in on that Senior Discount while enjoying the company of a friend.
And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.