ACTIONS THAT SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

ACTIONS THAT SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

Mark 9:35 "Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

I don't know if I would ever run for political office. With politics comes the degrading of characters and the destruction of one person by another. As we left the reservation this weekend it was election week. Council members were all trying to convince the tribe that they were the best man or woman for the job. With it came that typical running down each other. I guess that is one reason why I would not run for office. I hate the thought that I would have to run one person's character into the dirt. I remember once running for president of a youth organization. The other person covered the buildings with posters, most of them telling people how good he was and what a horrible person I was. I still remember his political speech. He had every word typed and somehow he managed to dig up dirt about me that I never remember happening. Then it was my turn. It was my turn to do the same. But I will also never forget my speech. I got up and said, "My name is Robert Soto. I am running for president. All I have to say is that you know who I am and what I can do. If I am elected, I will do my best to continue to serve you. Thank you." And I walked down the platform. I won by a landslide.

As we left the reservation, I stopped by the cultural center. An elderly Apache woman was the museum curator. She said, "Tuesday is the primaries. Then the mudslinging will start. But us older folks do not listen to a word they say because we are old enough to know their hearts and who to vote for." It is not the words one says that makes the man. It is his actions and his servanthood. It is his or her desire to serve the people they wish to lead. It does not happen with an election, it is a lifetime commitment. Jesus said, "..."If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." I know a lot of people who desire to be great, but all they have is words and promises with no action. Remember, your words will eventually find you out because your actions will always speak louder than your words and empty promises.

Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor