During my first year of college, I got a job working at Carowinds. I worked in what was then called Hannah Barbera Land. I had to wear orange pants and a white puffy three-quarter arm length shirt. I operated such rides as the Scooby Doo Roller Coaster, the Short Line railroad, a mini sky tower and an airplane ride. Thirty odd years later, I can still see and hear in my mind a show featuring a marionette rabbit singing, “I Love a Rainy Night” by Eddie Rabbit.

One late afternoon while operating the Carousel, a severe thunderstorm came over the park. Lightning was all around us as it poured down rain. Guests and fellow workers took shelter under the Carousel. I was under there with parents, small children and other young adults. It was frightening. And yet, I don’t remember being afraid. All I remember was joking around with the children, helping them keep their mind of the storm. With my mind focused on them, I did not have time to be afraid.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 2:3-4 to “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” The motivation and inspiration for this command is our Lord Jesus Christ who put our need for salvation above His glory and His life. He left glory and added to Himself humanity. He died in our place so that by faith alone in Him, we can be saved.  Because of this, we are told to have the same attitude as Christ. When we do so, we find that there is an added benefit, our worries and fears become less as we focus on the needs of others. So as Paul said, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.