Shoe Shine Anyone?

When we arrived in Korea we had around 10 days of orientation in Jeonju. We then headed for Ulsan where we live now. When we arrived in Ulsan, all 70 teachers teaching in the Ulsan area met their co-teacher. I met mine as well. His name is Mr. Sung. One of the first things I found out about him is that he's a Christian. He invited us to his church two days later so we accepted his invitation.

Mr. Sung picked us up at 10:30am and we were off. We went to a local town named Yangsan. We parked and went up to the 3rd floor of a building in the center of town. We were greeted by several Koreans, a Chinese pastor, a Filipino pastor and the Korean pastor. We sat down and we sang, we prayed, we sang, we prayed, we listened to preaching, we sang, we ate lunch, we sang and finally we prayed some more. We left for home around 3:30pm.

About four weeks ago at church, I was sitting at the table after lunch and a man came up to me and asked me to give him my shoes. At first, I didn't know what was going on but I said okay and away my shoes went. Thankfully, he gave me some sandals to wear while my shoes were gone. About ten minutes later he came back with my shoes and they had never looked so good. The church member had taken my shoes and shined them like nothing I'd ever seen before. They looked like a mirror.

This man has found a way to serve the members of the church. About once a month he will go around and take each persons shoes and shine them. You can tell he is doing the best job he can do as he works. As I thought about this the week after it happened, I could not help but think of Jesus going around the room after the passover feast and washing the feet of His disciples.

John 13:12-17 "So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

I believe humility and faithfullness are two of the keys to being a servant that pleases the Lord. As I write this a few people come to mind. One is my father, Lennie Gardner. I know he is someone who would give up anything for his family and friends. He thinks of himself last. When we eat dinner at their house, you either leave the house having turned down several offers to take something with you or you leave with a bag of food for later. It's easier to just take the food at the first offer. He also uses the blessings God has given him to serve others, whether it's through his knowledge of so many things or through his business. He will one day reap his rewards for his humble faithfulness to God.

Another person is Karen's father, Jerry Guin, who is now enjoying everlasting life in heaven. He was also a true servant of God. He never wanted recognition for what he did, he just did it and moved on. He would save every penny and use it for others. I know he is already reaping the rewards of his humble faithfulness to God.
May we all look for for opportunities to ask the question, "Shoe Shine Anyone?"