Not Mine

One group of unnamed characters in the animated film, "Finding Nemo," that stands out in my memory is the seagulls.  Whenever a food source, like the little crab, would appear, all of them would begin squawking "Mine, mine!"  And then each would take out after it, determined to secure the meal for himself and only for himself.

Perhaps it is so memorable because it is so true to human nature, this desire to look out for number one or as the old Schlitz Beer commercials used to put it, "Grab all the gusto you can."  There is this selfish streak in us that want what we want, without regard to how it might impact others.

It is fashionable in counseling individuals to say that "you can't do this for anyone else, you have to do it for yourself as if it is only real, only lasting, only true if one works to overcome addictions or change behavior for self.  It would seem that self is the one that should receive top billing, that working to serve self is the highest calling.

But is that really true?  Is it true that we cannot make changes and overcome addiction or improve our lives with others primarily in mind?  Can individuals make changes when they become a parent that puts the child first?  Can a husband begin going to opera just for his wife's sake?  Can a wife take up fishing just to support her husband?  Is it true that doing something primarily for someone else is not as real or beneficial as doing it for one's self?  No, it is not true.

In fact, truly great things are done with others in mind.  Our Founding Fathers pledged and risked their personal wealth and safety for the good of the colonies.   Our bravest heroes in battle give up their lives protecting others, even jumping on top of gernades or otherwise putting themselves in harm's way for their buddies.

Employees get up earlier than they would for themselves to get to work on time, teammates actually do "take one for the team" when necessary, parents and grandparents sit through shows like "Finding Nemo" when they would rather be just about anywhere else.  The fact is that doing for self is anything but the highest calling.  While necessary at times to attend to self, if it is the driving force in your life, you will end up on a a very lonely path indeed.

Here's the truth of the matter: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Phil 2:3-4).  Serving others is our true calling, it is in fact why Jesus came to this earth and we are charged to "have this same attitude of Christ" (v. 5).

Life would truly be better for everyone if we all would shift from seeing everything in the lens of "mine" to regarding things as "not mine."  If we all were given to share and do for others, all would have enough, all would be taken care of, all would benefit - even self.  Jus' Say'n.