Ready to Die to Ourselves

I love the book Blue Like Jazz (and enjoyed the subsequent movie by the same name).  I want to share with you one of the most important, impressing passages in the book that I find myself continually going back to reread.  

     Set-up: Donald Miller, the author, is in San Francisco staying at a bed-and-breakfast owned by a Christian man he knows named Bill.  Miller notes how Bill is a true servant whom he sees always picking up after people, joyfully cooking all the meals and cleaning the dishes (even though the guests are to do that).  

    Miller was drinking coffee with Bill early one morning before everyone was up and Miller asked him how he kept such a good attitude with so many people abusing his kindness.

      Bill set down his coffee and looked Donald straight in the eye and said,  "If we are not willing to wake up in the morning and die to ourselves, perhaps we should ask ourselves whether or not we are really following Jesus."

Indeed.