“… but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” -Philippians 2:3
Throughout the years I have worked at Loma Linda University Health, I have had the opportunity to serve with an amazing group of men and women. They show up each day prepared to play their part in fulfilling the mission of the organization. On the days when there are challenges or hiccups, most of us in the organization are unaware of it. How is this possible? It’s because so many have been practicing the skills of selflessness, humility with an eye for excellence, compassion and service.
I remember the first time I became aware of our key text for today, above. It was challenging to think that Paul admonishes us to esteem others as more important than ourselves. This is a counterintuitive idea in a day and age when we are spending more and more time focused on ourselves. Perhaps it’s the type of work we do at Loma Linda that causes us to stay grounded and closer to the spirit of this scripture. While I think we are already doing well at serving others, we are being invited to go a step farther.
What would it look like if we saw others as more important than ourselves? How would it impact the way we speak or work with each other? I think this invitation from Paul to “see” one another with different eyes comes at an appropriate time.
We have an opportunity as a health care organization to be radically different from the world we live in. It’s hard not to be affected by the overt messaging we may hear from the world that one culture, gender, political or religious ideology, race, class, educational aptitude, pain, pride, etc. is better than another. Though we may be hesitant to admit it, this can impact the way we see our patients, students, coworkers, spouses, children, singleness, relationships and ourselves.
So how do we put others first? How do we go beyond teaching our students and residents how to connect and actually have it become ingrained in each of us? We follow Jesus. We ask Him for the ability to see and overcome the barriers that impede us from mirroring what He did for all humanity. He thought we were so important that He became one of us and loved us and then died for us.
It’s a tall order, I know, and yet I think the men and women who work here are up for the task. My confidence comes from being not only an employee, but also the recipient on multiple occasions of quality health care, smiles, encouragement, kindness and so much more. I believe that we can, with God’s help, truly live our values with our many strengths and differences.
Dilys Brooks, MDiv
Associate campus chaplain
Loma Linda University