It was 98 degrees outside as I pulled out of the parking lot after teardown today. I happen to think that we have the most amazing volunteers on the planet at Lifepoint, and today was no exception. Honor, passion, and generosity are on display in these fine people for all to see between the hours of 6:00am and 2:00pm on any given Sunday at Chancellor High School. Thank you to all of you who stayed late today--even if you weren't scheduled--to get us out of there as quickly as possible.
I was still marveling at our "Life Force" when I encountered another group of volunteers on my way home. Stopping at Bottom Dollar (my "not-as-much-favorite" grocery store) to pick up some laundry detergent, I noticed a fire truck parked outside. After determining there was no emergency, I went in and quickly grabbed my bottle of Tide, only to then stand in line behind many because they only had two checkout lines open (see my blog later this week on customer service!) The lines were piling up quickly with people behind me, as well. I turned around, hoping the growing line would alert someone to open another register, and noticed four guys from the Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department a few carts back, in full uniform, with their grocery cart full of Gatorade. It looked as though they had been to one or two calls already on this steamy day, and the Gatorade made sense. It was then that I heard the call--the dispatcher alerting them about the incident that needed their immediate response. Without hesitation they left their gatorade--still thirsty--and walked out into the sweltering heat and drove away to put themselves again in harm's way, hoping to secure the safety of some stranger.
The passion and sacrifice with which these and our own volunteers faithfully and selflessly serve reminds me of that of the One for whom we serve at Lifepoint. Jesus was no stranger to sacrifice, exhaustion, heat, hunger, pain--and thirst. He put Himself in harm's way on our behalf--so that we might have life. So that we might know God and His purpose for us, without shame or fear or deserved guilt sentence. So that we might feel loved, regardless of our worth or past or mistakes. So that we would be safe from the fire and quenched from our own thirst by springs of living water that never run dry. His example is one worth following, and while it doesn't come without a price tag, there is no higher calling and nothing more fulfilling and worthwhile in this life.
Thank you, Lifeforce, for all that you are and all that you do to make it easier for those who are far from God to be found by Him.
Thank you, Spotsylvania VFD #8 (I think?) for responding to that emergency today, and many others, without regard for your own life, or safety, or thirst, or convenience.
And thank you, Jesus, for responding without hesitation to my call and showing me your design for my life.
