Confessions of a Taker

smgianotti  —  April 7, 2015

Recently, I drove my slow-leaking front tire over to Discount Tires. Twenty minutes later I drove off with one construction nail less, one patch more, and a receipt for $0.00.

 

I love free things.

 

Rsz laura merchant foot washing 

Photo courtesy of Laura Merchant via Creationswap.com


I love the free advice Michael Hyatt gives on his blog—the app recommendations and statistics for why I should nap more. I love that a stranger with silver whiskers, staying in the campsite next to us, overheard our Coleman troubles and lent us his stove to cook our gumbo. I love that once when I ran an hour behind, bogged down by EKGs and sending patients to the hospital, my boss added my next patient to her schedule. 

 

Nothing perks me up like something free.

 

Let me clarify. Nothing perks me up like getting something free. 

Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy to examine my co-worker’s daughter during lunch, to see if she needs a CT scan for the concussion she got last night. I’ll do it, as long as I’m caught up on my paperwork. And, I’ll  cook a chicken casserole for my friends who just had a baby, as long as it isn’t a crazy week. 

  

But, Jesus—the great teacher of the first century—taught a better way. “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31). Give freely. No strings attached. 

 

Once, when there wasn’t a servant to do it, Jesus knelt in front of his twelve buddies and rinsed the muck off their feet. Jesus got to Judas, the friend who planned to leave dinner early, find Jesus’ enemies, and help them capture him. Jesus knew about Judas’s treachery and washed his feet anyways–because Judas’s feet needed washing, too. 

 

Perhaps I like taking more than giving, because I’m unusually selfish. Or, maybe it’s because I’ve drunk the cool-aid of American consumerism. Or maybe, it’s because I’m human—and one of the broken ones.  

 

But, I want to live in a world where people are more productive because Michael Hyatt offers tips they’d never think of on their own. Where campers toss andouille sausage into a pot and smile at how kind strangers can be. Where employees don’t drown on a busy day, because their bosses care.  

 

If I want to live in that kind of world, I need to start giving more–my attention, my help, and my time. No strings attached. 

4 responses to Confessions of a Taker

  1. ok, how ya gonna be able to do it? Or are you going to Nike it?

  2. Hi, im writing about your “transferring standard theme” question.

    I was sorry that the standard is out of support, I had a regular license and can download it from woothemes.com. They say that the support continues for years but I always see the same version.
    If you want I can send you my version, but I think you’ve solved.
    Hello