Served By Royalty

Call me a nerd, but I love NPR. That's pretty much all I listen to in the car ... when I'm by myself, that is. Tasha hates talk radio of any kind. So, I indulge when I'm driving by myself. The other day I caught one of the coolest interviews I've ever heard. And when it hit the punch-line in the end, I knew I had to blog about it.

The interview was with a former White House butler named Lynwood Westray who served eight presidents for a total of 32 years. Mr. Westray's perspective on life inside the White House was fascinating. You can read the complete transcript here (if you're nerdy enough!) Toward the end of the interview, Mr. Westray was asked about his fondest memory during his 32 years serving in the White House. And here was his response:

"When reflecting on his fondest memory, Westray talks about a time in 1979 when Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited the White House. After dinner, Prince Philip went into the Red Room, next to the state dining room. Westray and his buddy were serving liquor. Westray says he was carrying the tray and glasses.

"The prince was in there by himself, which was odd, because everybody else had gone down to the other end of the building," Westray says. "I said, 'Your Majesty, would you care for a cordial?' He says, 'I'll take one if you let me serve it.' What do you do? I didn't do all that because I had the stuff in my hand. And he says, 'If you let me pour it, I'll have one with you.'

"... So he poured it, the one he wanted, and we took the same thing that he had. And we had our drink there together and had a little talk while we were there. He told us if we were ever over there in London to stop at Buckingham Palace and see him. Can you imagine the prince serving you? I enjoyed it. You know, we're not supposed to drink and carry on at that time. We're not guests. It was just the three of us in the room, so nobody knew what happened. And I drank my little cordial, we all drank, and had a little conversation. But that was one thing I'll never forget, having been served by royalty."

I haven't been able to get that last line out of my head since I first heard the interview: "That was the one thing I'll never forget, having been served by royalty." I don't think I have to spell it out for you ... but that's exactly what Christ has done for us. We were served by royalty when He came to this earth,

taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross! (Phil. 2:7-8)

Jesus, the King of Kings came as a lowly servant washing the dirty feet of His disciples--being baptized by those unworthy to even stoop down and tie his sandals--loving the unlovable--serving those who should be serving Him.

We have been served by royalty. We must never forget that!