I am standing on this railroad track in an area that most would describe as the middle of nowhere.  There is no cell phone service in this remote part of Alabama and no automobiles crossed my path the half hour I spent here.  My only company during my visit was a gray fox and a covey of quail.  I loved the way the lonesome train track curved and stretched out before me on his quest toward Tennessee.

        And just about the time I thought I would have no company, I hear a familiar sound.  Far off in the distance I heard the sound of a train whistle warning everyone in this barren spot of his soon appearing.  A few second later I hear another louder whistle, followed by yet another louder whistle; and I know my visitor is quickly approaching and I do exactly what you expect, I step a few feet from the track and prepare for my guest.  I am standing perhaps 10 feet from the track and suddenly the train whistle is almost deafening.  The only thing more exciting that the thunderous whistle is the powerful wind that pushes me away from the track as the train passes by.

        Afterwards I once again stand alone in the silence and look at my friend the train track.  He will never ride the wind like the train just did; he will never thrill the young at heart by his speed or power and nobody will ever praise him for his beauty.  But these rails are tremendously important to the life of our country.  No train would ever carry the freight that fuels our economy without the silent service of the train tracks.  They perform their duty every day and never get any credit.  Night and day they serve us in the shadows; they receive no praise, no awards, yet everyday they lay their lives down for us.

        I wish I was more like my unselfish friend.  Too often I seek the limelight and crave positions of status instead of a place of service.  There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.  I challenge you today to do something good and kind for someone in secret; no fanfare, no recognition, but totally in secret.  Then, set back and watch how it will bless their lives.  You might not get any credit for the good deed here on earth, but one day you will be rewarded openly.  Happiness is a choice and it begins when we choose to serve those around us.

Something to think about:

• There are two kinds of people; those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is much less competition there.

• A good boss is a guy who takes a little more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit.

• No one can help everybody, but everybody can help someone.

• Forget yourself for others, and others will not forget you.

• Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

• Our business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.

• Life is a lot like tennis—the one who can serve best seldom loses.

• The Lord does not do anything with us, only through us.

Thankful for the silent servants I have known
Rickey Moore