GO THROUGH LIFE WITH YOUR HAND OUT

The late and extremely popular St. Louis Cardinal radio broadcaster of 47 years, Jack Buck, was one of those magnetic sorts. He was magnificently adored. Thousands upon thousands loved him. Everyone felt he was "their" neighbor. I met this man on a few occasions. He was wonderfully, refreshingly different. I believe the reason this man developed such an enormous number of kindred spirits is because he lived with his hand out....not to take, but to give.

Jack lived with his hand extended to greet. The first time I met him was in the tunnel beneath Busch Stadium. He was standing alone----looking dapper in his grey slacks, red coat, and white shirt and tie----and when he saw me it was Jack who made the first move to greet. He wanted to know who I was, where I was from, and what I was doing. He had this unusual way of visiting with people as if he had much time set aside just for them.

Jack lived with his hand extended to cheer. He reached to every class. His eyes had no prejudice; social, racial, or otherwise. He loved people and respected all. Those many and fortunate interns who passed through the corridors of KMOX radio in St. Louis rave about the manner in which he treated them with such grace. He intentionally built people with his wordtools.

Jack lived with his hand extended to give. Knowing a middle-aged lady had stood on her feet all day serving customers at the stadium, Jack approached her in a crowd as she stood waiting for the next bus to finally head for home. He called her by name, reached out his hand toward hers and placed $100 bill in her palm; then kept moving on. When he would speak at a dinner he would have a stack of $10 bills and every time a waiter/waitress would serve him his meal or fill his water glass or coffee cup, he would tip them $10.

Don't you see why people loved Jack Buck? He lived like Jesus. He gave himself into the hearts of both princes and paupers. He lived from his heart and saw others from theirs. He valued people. People loved him. We tend to value programs and schedules while resenting interrupters of both....people.

I cheer you on to live with your hand out. Hand out compliments and support. Hand out conversations simply noticing the ones with whom you speak. Hand out cash. Give yourself away and you'll find the real you---the fulfilled you--- shows up on earth; the person you were always meant to be. Jesus was not concerned about how he looked in doing good to others; neither was Jack. They just did it. Shy is not a part of kingdom character. Timid is self-serving; self-preserving. Don't live focused upon preserving your own image. Open up your hearts and open up your hands.....go through life with your hand out.

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:4, 5