use your hamburger

Rosa Leo.

Stucco master of northern Mexico. 

Pastor. Father. Husband. 

Legend. 

I’ve been to three builds with youth in Mexico. I remember Rosa Leo doing stucco work on 2 of them. He moves so fast and so efficiently it makes me want to drop the trowel and find another useful task to complete. 

This year, he showed up all three days of the build. During hard tasks, with a thick accent, he would bark encouragement and comic relief by patting his belly and shouting “USE YOUR HAMBURGER!!!”

He was cheerful. Helpful. Fully engaged. Ministering. Working. 

And his wife was at home battling, and most likely dying, from cancer. 

Rosa Leo? 

He chose sacrifice. 

He chose service. 

He chose a pack of sunburnt gringos, most of them youth. 

He chose the hard work. 

He chose the hard path. 

And he chose joy. 

I don’t have to ask myself what I would have done in his shoes. I already know. I would have been at home with my wife - even if I could be of use elsewhere. 

His radical choice to serve moved me. It convicted me. 

My three favorite idols have names. Megan, Miller, and Jude. And I often switch from Jude being and inspiration to serve more and and excuse to do less. I haven’t find the right balance. 

But like my “Hamburger Friend”, the commitment to put God and others before himself was never about balance. 

And that’s the lesson for me. 

Lord help me deny myself. Help me lose my life, but find it in you. Help me abide in you. Help me know what obedience and service looks like. Amen.