I took an ethics class this summer as part of my coursework for my future degree. It stretched me. Each week, I felt SO uneducated and the words were far beyond what my mind could grasp. I remember Mom talking about reading hard stuff, and she would have to read and then re-read, and then re-re-read, just to make some sense out of the concepts. When taking an online class, a student does not have the luxury of raising their hand or staying after class to get some 1:1 time with the instructor. So, I read. And then I re-read. And re-re-read. And still my mind had difficulty. I started this post a couple weeks ago, because something in my textbook actually began to make sense as I learned about utilitarianism, ethical egoism, deontology…and it made me think a lot.

I remember a mission trip I took with a group of students to the Dominican Republic, and our guide for the week talked about this quite a lot. People go to “the mission field,” hoping to help and influence and “plant seeds,” but end up coming home changed and realizing that those we intended to help, actually influenced and planted seeds within us, instead.

I read this quote somewhere, but I am not sure who to attribute it to: “If I serve you because of how it makes me feel, then I am actually serving me.”

Mind blown.

Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. – Philippians 2:3-4 (CEB)

So today, I am grateful for powerful moments of clarity and education.

I am grateful for air conditioning and indoors.

I am grateful for a reminder of what servanthood actually means and how we end up twisting that Christ-like quality into something very self-serving.

I am grateful for boxes of Crumbl Cookies to share at Bingo, thanks to Katrina.

I am grateful for last week in one of our favorite places on earth, about 10,000 above sea level.

I am grateful Sam was able to ride motorcycles all week long and see beautiful things while getting a little dirty.

I am grateful for the opportunity to go on a couple short drives so I could also see some mind blowing beautiful things that were not just pictures.

I am grateful my phone didn’t completely run out of storage on the trip.

I am grateful for a nice cell phone rep who convinced us to wait for the newest version before trading up, benefiting us in the long run, rather than his paycheck right now.

I am grateful for a group of Friends who include Dad every Wednesday evening, and included me last night.

I am grateful that God is in charge and I really don’t have to worry about UAPs and all the things that tend to blow my mind.

I am grateful for cousin Valerie who thinks about me and sends a text.

I am grateful Keith is going to be okay after his motorcycle met a deer.

I am grateful for a real life example of servanthood as I watch Fran take care of our friends.

I am grateful I will get to see her and our friends tonight at Bingo.

And I am grateful Ethics is over and 3 more hours are in the completed column.