The “Least of These” are the Greatest of Gifts

 I read this the same week I was given an assignment to figure out how to incarnate Jesus more effectively. Now, it may be tempting to answer that by simply saying: “Be more like Mister Rogers!” But that wouldn’t do for Fred Rogers. He was an avid proponent of embracing one’s uniqueness. He’d want each of us to figure out our own special way. We can, instead, learn from his example.

Fred Rogers joyfully nestled into his faith and he emulated Jesus like no one else. He was an advocate for children and a gracious servant to the “least of these”.  I believe we are all called to serve. That may be the most effective, practical way to reflect Jesus. However, cultivating a heart of service without pride getting in the way; that’s been a hard struggle. Don’t get me wrong, I’d like to think that about 50% of the time I do things out of a pure heart. Other times, I fall into the temptation of thinking; oh look at me, look at the nice things I’m doing. I’m a pretty good person, right?

It’s like adding drops of poison into fresh water.

So I contemplated my assignment while listening to the audiobook, often replacing Google’s voice with my recollection of Mister Roger’s slow, teacherly drawl. In Chapter 7, “The Least of These,”  the author begins by describing a special performance at her church. It was a bell choir consisting of adults with physical and mental disabilities. She was moved by their unabashed enthusiasm. I smiled and immediately thought of my Uncle Abelardo “Abby” Estrada.  He was a lover of the performing arts as well. He had Down Syndrome and spent Summers at our house until he eventually moved in with my family when I was 14. It always puts a smile on my face to think of him. I thought about the virtues that God taught me through him. He was so loving and had an authentically grateful spirit.

 

These are the ones that we are to be stewards of. They are more vulnerable and perceived as having more difficult lives. But you know, they are able to understand the essentials of life in a way that we can’t. What a blessing! I finally get it. We can never see Jesus in ourselves until we first see Jesus in ones “such as these.” Jesus identified with them and so should we. It’s all about creating connection and realizing, as Rogers did, that we are more alike than different.

I finished the book wishing there was more of it to read. I took my ear buds out and quickly wiped a tear that had escaped. I was at my work desk and didn’t want anyone to see. I’ll spare you the boring details, but at my job, I work with spreadsheets and numbers. The numbers usually fall in a range between a few hundred and a few million. I only mention this because yesterday, after finishing the book, the very last entry on my spreadsheet was 1.43. You may know that this was Fred Rogers’ favorite number. It’s rare to see a number like that in my work, but I’ll not make this out to be some spiritual sign. It’s enough to think of it as a happy coincidence.