Day 20–Becoming a vessel

*Thank you, Debra Dickey, for serving as today’s guest contributor as part of the “28 days of love” project this February. Debra’s a regular contributor to this blog; I’m thankful for the wisdom she shares and for her friendship, too.*

[Online ‘Dictionary’ of vessel]  Rare: a person regarded as an agent or vehicle for some purpose or quality; a conduit

Honestly, I personally don’t agree that it is so rare to discover or identify a person who chooses to be, and could be intentionally described as, a vehicle or conduit for some purpose or quality – to be the vessel, then let the Glory fall where it may. Hallelujah!  I know an abundance of those kinds of folks.

For the most part, we’ve been conditioned to seek acclaim, to go for the gold, to have our name in print, to be sought out for our diverse and multi worldly successes.  And so we should work hard, so we should absolutely do our best, so we should strive for the goals that get us where we need to be.  Yet we must not also forget that we are working neither at earthly employment for only earthly rewards, nor with only earthly tools for earthly recognition, but with, and for, a higher Authority, who supplies tools in the form of omnipotent gifts and resources, and who introduces goals and missions for our omniscient ‘work’, that far-reaches our day-to-day jobs, going well beyond these finite terrestrial expectations.

Certainly, I am much aware of what is involved and how much is required to become even slightly successful at genuine vessel-age (J). Truly, there must be a putting aside of one’s own ego, a mighty attitude adjustment, and an alteration in one’s own heart and mind in accordance with one’s own personal walk of faith.  Letting God fill your being with what He will, then use you as He chooses for His Honor and Glory!   Surprise, surprise, it’s not always easy.  Matter of fact, sometimes it’s downright hard!  But despite those drawbacks, in the midst of even those challenges, you won’t be surprised to learn that it is being done, and quite phenomenally, on a regular basis, by persons of every sort, in all walks of life!  People who are sensitive to the leading of God’s Spirit, people who walk and commune with God for greater understanding, people who seek first the kingdom of God.

Yes, people do it every day.  Spouses.  Parents.  Regular people.  Lovely people.  People who invite the best for others, people who are acquainted with the big picture, magnanimous people who love watching others succeed, then go about the business at hand and take the time to help those in their sphere of effectiveness to find their true path, to aspire, to learn, to strive for their goals, to recognize and own their particular accomplishments and achievements, then celebrate those successes right alongside them … without ever giving a thought as to who should receive the credit!   Modest, they say.  I say otherwise.  I say:  Accomplishing the Mission that we were put here to accomplish by following the Guidelines that we were put here to follow. So it is written as ‘The Gift of Love’:   “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”  [I Cor. 13 (13) ]

“The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”—Mother Teresa

Isn’t that truly what love is?  Whenever possible, be the vessel.  Well, look at you . . . you’re already doing it!