While teaching in Guntur, India, I have learned as much as I have taught. The deep humility of my Lutheran brothers in India has been nothing short of remarkable to me. At every turn they were on hand to help, direct, support, translate, and see to my needs. They went shopping with us to help us negotiate unfamiliar territory and tolerated our cultural gaffs (which were many). At the farewell given to us at the Lutheran seminary in Guntur, I teased my hosts by saying that I did not want to go home, because when I got back to Houston I would have to carry my own luggage. No matter how hard I tried to carry my own bags they insisted on taking them from me. One young woman, eight-months pregnant, insisted that she carry my computer bag to the van when we departed from the seminary one evening. I tried to prevent her by pointing out her "delicate condition," but she said, "Oh, pastor, it is a blessing for me to be able to serve in this way." What can you say to that?

With what great humility they received our teaching and preaching. They patiently sat through translations of everything we said. They came for personal blessings and prayers from us at the end of the various events at which we spoke. Their poverty was evident to us, but invisible to them. They offered us the best that they had and we lived like kings and princes among them. We began to have some idea of the heavenly banquet at which there is sumptuous food and perfect fellowship together. The Indian cuisine was sublime.

Our hearts were united in faith and confession. They said to us that there was nothing to divide us from each other; not nation, tribe, language, or people. All are one in Christ (Rev 5:9-10). What might have divided us was insignificant in the face of our unity in our Lord (Eph 4:4-6). We have but one calling and there is none great or more exalted. It comes from God. The person and work of Christ creates it, and not our own merits or deserving; no matter how glittering and glorious our own works may seem to us. There is no loss of honor or prestige in humility. For those who are first must be last, those who want to be honored must make themselves servants of all (Mk 9:35); the pattern of the one who has called us.