Receiving Wings!

“If I should accomplish this mission -- I mean -- might I perhaps win my wings?” --ClarenceIn thirty years of pastoring one of the many things I’ve learned is this: the people who are the most content are the ones helping others.I’ve seen it time and again. In make shift medical clinics set up in block churches all over the world. In schools where teachers go the extra mile to help kids who aren’t getting much help at home. In the basement of a church that opens its doors to homeless teenagers during the cold winter months.The people doing this were and are folks who are not interested in impressing others. Folks with big hearts, gentle spirits, and a thirst to reach out to those who are struggling. And folks who feel as if they’ve been blessed through their experiences.As I watched the classic Christmas movie “It’s a wonderful life” for the untold time, I realized that Clarence angel second class is one of those folks who receives everything he needs by helping others. He needs or at least wants his wings. And it is in his helping George that he receives his wings.This idea that helpers are helped themselves by helping is as old as humanity itself. By jumping in, by taking a risk, by trying to save someone else, we are— saving ourselves. But some people never muster the courage to jump. They’re afraid of giving up familiarity for the unknown, afraid of giving up all they have for nothing that, at the moment, they can see.In Luke 18, a rich ruler asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Among other things, Jesus says, “[You must] sell everything you have and give [it] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (v. 22). Lacking vision, the ruler “became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth” (v. 23). His wealth clouded his ability to see — or trust that he’d someday see— the benefits of leaving behind his materialistic life to help others.Contrast his reaction to that of the biblical Isaiah, who, when God asks, “Whom shall I send?” says, “Send me!” (Isaiah 6: 8). Clarence, clearly, has a touch of Isaiah in him. He was ready to go, never stopping to consider what the risk might be. I mean, let’s face it: he was living in heaven, a pretty cushy existence, right? And yet he was eager, even despite past failures, to go.In the end, Clarence learns the secret lesson that all true givers learn: that, indeed, it is in giving that we receive. Though we might go into an unknown situation with a fuzzy focus, the risk we take brings us clarity. So the people we try to help wind up helping us.It seems to me that the only way to receive help is to become a helper. When we help those around us we in reality are helping ourselves.This is a wonderful season. A season when we could each give a little extra! Smile a little more! Be the help that we can be!!!!!Several weeks ago I felt like the Holy Spirit led me to encourage our faith community to participate in a program called “love thy neighbor.” It is a simply way to give to those around you.Please check it out fathershouse.net/lovethyneighbor