Pat was in the 2nd row of the middle section of the church. She had just had foot surgery a few days earlier, yet here she was on Sunday morning, huge leg cast, crutches and all. When worship began, she was standing, yet had to sit very soon after. Periodically she had to elevate her leg, but all she had was the back of the chair in front of her. She propped her leg on top of that chair, but it looked pretty uncomfortable.
In steps Greg.
Greg is our head usher. Greg saw Pat and made his way over to help. I saw Pat too, but I never moved. Greg talked to Pat, then talked to the people in the row in front of her. I watched this all from my position on the right side of the church.
Greg unhooked the chair directly in front of Pat and turned it around so she could prop her leg comfortably on the seat of the chair, instead of uncomfortably on the top edge of the chair. I thought to myself, “Wow, what a great guy!” I think we could add attentive, kind, thoughtful and sensitive to the definition of great guy.
Pat came back to church the following week. Again she was in the 2nd row of the middle section. She still had the huge leg cast and crutches. Again Greg came over, talked to the people in front of her, then moved the chair around so she could comfortably elevate her leg. And once again, I watched this all unfold from my position on the right side of the church.
Greg really impressed me that first week, and again the 2nd week as well. Actually he did far more than impress me; Greg’s actions inspired and challenged me. He did something very minute, yet it made a huge difference in someone’s life. And it was all because Greg chose to be attentive to the needs of others and then take action on it. I want to be “that” person - see a need and then respond; do something about it; take action. I want to be Jesus in the flesh; I want to be like Greg.