God with a towel in His hand (Matthew 20:26 -28). That towel symbolizes One who did not come to be served, but to serve. Yet how quickly we reverse the pattern and expect others to serve our needs. That's why we need to keep Jesus' example before us.
You are commissioned to go into the world as servants. Leading by serving. Elisabeth Elliot told of a relative who was the dean of a Christian college. One night some boys in a dorm smeared the walls with shaving cream, peanut butter and jelly. When the dean heard about it, he wondered what action to take. He could force the young men to clean it up or he could order the janitor to do it. Instead, he started to clean up the mess himself. Soon doors began to open, and before long the guilty ones were helping him wash the walls. Because he took the role of a servant, he taught the boys a valuable lesson.
The pattern established by Christ for leadership can be summed up in one word: servant hood. Jesus Himself exemplified this when He washed the disciples' feet "as an example". This small piece of towel is a tangible symbol of your basic call to serve. May it be a constant reminder to help you in your future ministry to realize that the "towel in your hand" is a servant's towel.
Sanctus Deo.
Mrs Kay Stegen
Rector: CedarCollege of Education