The lesson of Thomas the Train

A couple of years ago when my little grandson was only four we would have what he called sleepovers.  He would stop at my back door and wait for me to let him in.  He had his little backpack and a box of toys in his hands.  The anticipation of sitting on the floor with him and playing with what was then his favorite toy was delightful to me.  I knew that it would not be long until a visit with Granny might not be so cool.   As a result, I am always thrilled to see him.  He immediately told me everything that he had planned to do.  We would kiss Mom or Dad goodbye, depending on who brought him over and prepare for a fun evening.

 After dinner it would be time to look in the box to see what he brought.  I recognized immediately this favorite toy, it was Thomas the Train and most of his friends.  We would set up the little track on the floor while talking of our plans for making Thomas useful.  The theme throughout the stories about Thomas is that he should always be a useful little engine.  He would drive around his track and find individuals who needed help in some small way and help them out. Usefulness was his life goal.

There are many people in our society who try to be useful.  They do kind deeds and look for opportunities to help one another.  However, there exists a dark trend in the society at large.  Instead of focusing on how we can make others lives better, many members of our society are only interested in themselves.  We have become  preoccupied with self.  If there was a theme song for American it would have to be "It's all about me."  We seem to have forgotten that real joy comes when we get our priorities right.  It is not about having the biggest house, the latest technology, the finest car or any of those temporal things.  A house no matter how lovely does not make a home.  It takes a whole lot of unselfishness and a loving commitment to one another to achieve that goal.  Material things really do not matter and it is not about being the center of attention or looking the best.  Life is really about how useful we are to one another and to our Creator.  Those who volunteer their time and money to organizations who can really impact another's life are people who I would call useful.  They have fallen in love with all those endorphins that are generated from an act of kindness.  Just taking the opportunity to walk over and give someone an encouraging word or a hug is an act of usefulness.  Telling someone that you are lifting them up in prayer and are concerned  for them during a difficult time can make their burden feel so much lighter.  In Galatians, the scripture reads, "Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ."  The law of Christ is the law of love. "Love your neighbor as yourself."  In a time when people have decided the pick out their neighbors based on their economics or the color of their skin, or their position in a community, we need to understand that loving your neighbor means loving everyone.  What a large stick Jesus held up by which to measure us!  The scripture goes on to say, "This is His commandment that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment."  Love like faith demands action.  It demands that we be useful in the kingdom of God and that my friend is the Real Truth.