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Nov. 2017 Bmt. POA CAPP Devotional
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“Hear Am I; Send Me”
Rabbi Joshua S. Taub, D.D.
And then I heard the voice of God saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me." [Isaiah 6:8]
I love these words from Isaiah. Regardless of one's belief in God, understanding of God or recognition of God's existence, there is among those who serve a sense that "the job" is more than simply a way to pay the rent and put food on the table.
Perhaps we were "called" to serve; perhaps we were "chosen" to live a life of service; nevertheless, we do what we do to make life better, to make our community better, and to be the kind of human beings we were meant to be. We are men and women of honor, integrity, courage, passion and compassion.
The honor and privilege of serving the community comes with responsibilities, and it comes with hardships and burdens. Our families have to live with the choice we made to serve and protect. They have to carry burdens for which they did not ask, and make sacrifices they may struggle to understand. Try to explain to children (or a spouse) why you always run toward danger when everyone else is running away.
We are servants. We are guardians. When everyone else is losing his or her head, we are trained to keep ours. We do not seek gratitude or appreciation (although it is never refused). We seek neither honor nor glory (such things are decided and conferred by others). We only seek to do our jobs, to train and train some more to be able to do them well.
"Here am I, send me." We knew the job was dangerous when we signed on. We also knew we could make a difference in our city, our community and in the lives of others.
We will take care of our families, at home and on the job.
We will take care of our friends and our neighbors.
We will take care of each other and ourselves.
We answered "a call" to serve. May we continue to be strong and be strengthened in our efforts to answer that call.
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