Thursday of Week Three
Peace Through Others
“Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” —Mark 9:35
I remember going to church camp at the very beginning of summer. I needed a break from high school conflicts and drama, not to mention a break from an absolutely exhausting relationship that I was in. All week, I tried to engage in the activities at camp, praying for something to just “click.” I wanted to feel that “church-camp magical revival” that everyone spoke so highly of, yet the whole time, I felt like I was faking it.
We spent all week painting houses, building porches, and spreading the word of God to our UMARMY clients. It felt good seeing the smiles on their faces, but as each day passed on, everything still felt surface level for me. It wasn’t until the second-to-last night during our final worship service that I began to remember why I was there. As all of the students raised our candles and our arms in praise, I finally felt like God was speaking to me. However, he was not telling me what I thought I wanted to hear.
I thought coming to church camp would “fix me” like magic. I thought I would automatically be in a good mood for the rest of the summer and my problems would melt away. I thought that if I sang some songs about Jesus, all would be right. In reality, it wasn’t about me. I wasn’t there to fix myself—I was there to serve others. The minute I realized that the true mission of UMArmy was to spread the word of God, to benefit OTHERS, my heart opened up, and it felt like a million pounds had been lifted off my shoulders. Once I stopped chasing the “spiritual high” and allowed God to really work THROUGH me, everything else surrounding my life felt peaceful.
Author: Kennady Spies
Personal Reflection:
Think about a time when you served others. Did you approach it with a mindset of giving or were you hoping for something in return? How does shifting your focus to others change your experience?
Daily Action:
Find a way to serve someone today with no expectation of recognition—whether through an act of kindness, a favor, or offering encouragement.
