Another reason some of us don’t reach out to the "least of these, my brethren," is that sometimes we don’t think we have anything to offer. We are intimidated by our lack of resources or personality. Sometimes we are paralyzed by fear, fear of rejection or our own incompetence. We say, "What could I say or do to lift or help the likes of him?"
Years ago, as a campus stake president, I called a local Tongan brother to serve on the stake high council. "But how can I serve in a university stake?" He protested, "I know very little English. I’ve had no formal education. I will be a laughing stock among all those smart students." This man recited a list of reasons why he couldn’t possibly serve among smart people. I held to my conviction that this appointment was from the Lord. His wife finally said in her own native tongue, "I know my husband. I know his weaknesses. He is a good man and if the Lord wants him to speak in any language, I know he will find a way to do it."
This man did serve in
the BYU-Hawaii Stake for several years. For
the first few weeks, he was in torment with fears and feelings of
inferiority but he took his calling seriously. When he had to
speak in
his role as high councilor, he prepared with all his might, mind and
strength. He practiced in front of his mirror. He memorized
and
recited and repeated over and over the difficult lines. You can
all
predict what happened. This brother became one of the most
popular
speakers in the Stake. He never became fluent in English but he
had a
humble style and a fervor and wonderfully fresh ways of putting words
together. That made him beloved and appreciated. When he
stood at the
pulpit before all those smart people, they paid rapt attention.
He fed
the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty and liberated the captive.