Sacrifice

I heard a story today. A few years ago, three people hiking up Mount Rainier in Washington were caught in a sudden blizzard. Being experienced climbers, they dug a trench in the snow to find some shelter from the high winds and driving snow. One man lay on the ground, with his wife sandwiched between he and their friend on top to try and preserve body heat. Tragically, when help finally arrived, the husband had died. He gave his life for his wife and friend.

This story made me really think about what it means to sacrifice. I don’t know if I’ll ever be called upon to make this ultimate sacrifice for someone I love. But perhaps smaller sacrifices can enrich my life and add up to something bigger.

As a leader, I feel called to serve. (I wrote about this in a recent post.) I wonder if my service can be more selfless, so even when I don’t feel like it, I give up something important to me for the benefit of someone I care about or believe in. In particular, I think of time. I am careful with my time and guard it, sometimes selfishly. But maybe I can share it more with others.

Something to think about.