When you are the captain of a ship, it is good for your crew to have confidence in you. Their confidence depends upon your confidence. Those who have confidence do not have to rule with a mighty fist. What would be the need for it?

A captain has mates, and that is how it is meant to be. The captain is a mate who cares for the welfare of all those who lift the masts.

In truth, the captain who leads serves the crew. He serves more than the crew serves, yet he serves the crew. As he serves the crew, he serves Me.

The head of a government is a captain. Whether the government is a nation or corporation or a knitting group, the leader is a captain. There are receivers. There are customers, and there are governors, and there is crew. The leader serves all. The leader serves. That is what he is there for, exactly to serve.

A leader is mighty in his serving.

Serving is a high art. A waiter in a hotel has to know how to carry his tray and to weave in and out between tables. He has to know how to be courteous and efficient. Efficiency isn't more important than courtesy.

All leaders serve their constituency. All leaders are also servants. They serve. All leaders are also crew. Leaders and crew build each other.

In an airplane, not one rivet is more important than another. The smallest rivet is no less important than the largest. The rivet nearest the biggest rivet is not more important than the one the farthest away. The pilot who flies the plane is important. The one who fuels the plane and closes the latch is important. The crew is important, and the passengers are important.

Everyone has a role to play and to play well. Although there are captains, all are leaders, and all are important. Those with badges and titles in the eyes of the world may be seen as more important than those without badges and titles. But, you understand, all that is a game everyone plays and winks at. In the Reality of which I speak, all are important, and no one is more important than another. There is an even playing field.

Regardless of your particular service, regardless of your starring role, you serve. Captain or crew, you serve. All serve, and all are served. Serve well.

If you are a teacher, you serve. If you are a student, you serve. The lines are blurred. The teacher also learns, and the student also teaches. Everyone is a receiver, and everyone is a giver.

As an example, who has responsibility for a classroom? Everyone has. The parents at home also carry responsibility. The school board does. Everyone does. Those who went to school years ago, and those who go to school now, and those who have yet to go to school also are responsible. Everyone is responsible to every other.

Who is responsible for the world? Who is responsible for your country? Who is responsible for your home?

Every home has its unique form of government. May it be love. May everyone in the family serve every other member of the family. All are stars. No one is not a star. From the youngest to the oldest, each has something to teach and something to learn. Make your home as you will it to be. Serve in the family. Service is not to be counted. Service is not to be measured. Service is to be given. If you are the mother or father, you have service to give. If you are the baby, you have service to give.

Captain and crew are servers. Serve well. Serve well.