Tying Up Loose Ends

But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

- Matthew 20: 25-28

It was a cloudlessly perfect day for a picnic. The air hummed with birdsong; shading our eyes with cupped hands, squinting in the glare of sunlight. A group of clients tossed a frisbee with me, wildly swinging their arms and throwing it wide of the mark  - splash - they mercilessly laughed at me as I reached out to grab the floating frisbee drifting in the wading pool. A few of our clients had rolled up their pants and - supported upright by their staff - stepped into the refreshingly cool water. We brought out the watermelon, orange slices and popsicles, everyone sucking in deep breaths of summer. 

We headed over to the open field for a friendly match of soccer.  The ball was kicked in every direction - often the wrong way - tripping over our heels with laughter at every turn. We had lost count of the score, when at the goal line the ball was passed to a client from my team; but instead of comfortably shooting the ball into the net, got down on his knees at the feet of his friend - a member of the opposing team - and tied up his shoes. 

In a world of one-upmanship, where people step over others to get their own way, he bent down in the humble posture of a servant to wash the feet of his friend.