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Fridays With Joe - Week 9

If you read this blog on a regular basis you know that we are reading and discussing a book called Strength To Love by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  The book is very insightgul and even in the little bit we’ve read I have learned alot about what it really means to love.  One of the concepts that really stuck out to me is something Dr. King calls “Dangerous Altruism” which he defines as being willing “to risk prestige, position, and even [our] lives for the welfare of others.” 

I’ve been trying to wrap my mind about how to really do that in my own life.  Its easy to say, but very hard to do.  I think the story of Yukio Shige we told you about earlier this week is a great practical example of how to live out this concept.  Shige willingly gives up most of his time in order to talk people out of commiting suicide.  He doesn’t have any official position, and nobody asked him to do it, or pays him to do it, and he doesn’t ask or expect anything in return from the people he helps.  He just does it because he loves people.

We can all learn a lot from his example. What position we have, what other people think of us, how much its going to cost us, or what we get in return doesn’t matter.  We have to be willing to completely put others before ourselves.  Like Dr. King said when we see someone in need we shouldn’t ask “what will happen to me if I help this person?” Instead, the question should be “what will happen to this person if I don’t help them?” 

We can all make a decision to do something for someone and expect nothing in return.  Putting others before ourselves is a choice we have to make everyday, but when we do the results are amazing! 

Don’t forget to wish your dad a Happy Father’s Day! 

-JH

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