Do It Heartily

This past week Danny was given the opportunity of playing his guitar and of singing with his wife at the funeral of a 94-year-old man.  The man had requested that Danny do so.  Danny was lamenting the fact, which is so often the case, that it takes a funeral to inform you about what an outstanding and interesting person the deceased individual was.  "If only I had known these things during his life," we say to ourselves, "I'd have been able to talk with him or her, and to ask questions, and to have learned some valuable things."

One thing that Danny learned about the man intrigued me.  It was reported that the man went to a company and applied for a job.  He was asked, "What can you do?"

The man replied, "I can either be the best janitor that you've ever had, or I can be the best manager."

He was hired as a janitor.  After two weeks of work he was notified that he was being made manager.  After several years of service he rose to the top position of his profession.

This story is reminiscent of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt.  Joseph was purchased by Potiphar to be his slave.  He became Potiphar's best slave, and was given charge over all that Potiphar had.  Joseph was falsely accused, and was sent to prison where he became the best prisoner, and was given charge over all of the other prisoners.  From that position he rose to the top, and was given charge over all Egypt, and was second only to Pharaoh himself.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might...."

Colossians 3:23 says, "...Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord..."

This is good advice.

Once upon a time I was a sailor on board a dry-docked ship in Japan.  The crew ate at the mess hall on shore.  My ship was, therefore, under the necessity of supplying temporary help in the kitchen.  One crew member at a time was assigned to serve in the mess hall for a month.

My turn came.  Working in the mess hall is not the most pleasant of duties.  The work wasn't bad, but the grease was terrible, and the conversation of my fellow workers was worse.  I had no appetite for food while I worked there, and I had even less appetite for companionship with my co-workers.  During our frequent breaks, while my co-workers smoked and swore, I found other things to do.  I cleaned behind the stoves where it had never been cleaned before.  I removed a huge amount of greasy, dirty buildup while the others sat.  By the time my month expired, I had that huge mess hall shining.

A big, black man was the officer in charge of the mess hall.  One day he called me over.

"Where you from, boy?" he asked.

"Oregon."

"You must have good folks.  Why don't you become a cook?  We could use you here."

"Well, thank you, but I'm happy with my regular assignment and work."

I returned to my ship.

Several mornings later there was a call for "All hands on deck."  The entire crew took their places and stood at attention as the ship's captain explained his business and the reason for calling the assembly.  "From time to time," he said, "we're asked to send men from the ship to do temporary duty on shore.  It brings great honor to the U.S.S. Banner when reports come back about the exceptional service that our men render while they're away.  We've just received one of those reports.  It's a letter of commendation from the base commissary for Petty Officer Third Class James E. Kerns.  Would he please come forward so that I can present it to him?"

I was both honored and embarrassed as I marched up in front of all my crew mates to receive that letter of commendation for outstanding service in the base mess hall.  I'm not aware of any other similar award having ever been given.

I had done my job heartily to keep myself as much as possible out of earshot of my co-workers.