A lot has been written on Edhi. The man deserves all the praises and even more. Abdul Sattar Edhi was a prominent philanthropist 
and humanitarian and founded and ran the Edhi foundation in Pakistan for the better part of six decades until his recent passing on the 8th of July 2016. For his work he was affectionately known as the “Angel of Mercy” and is a legendary figure in Pakistan. He has literally shown ‘A Mirror to the Blind’. I really recommend reading this book and learning from the example of this man.
There is a whole host of lessons we can learn from the life Edhi led. Here, I am going to restrict myself to the two aspects of his life that have inspired me. You may call them the lessons that I have learned.
Simple living and higher purpose go hand in hand
He was a simple man to the core. This was the key to his success. It relieved him of all the complications that we get entangled into. His was a life free of the copious distractions of the modern world. His being and his life was entirely uncomplicated. This gave him all the time to focus on his mission. Unlike ours, his attention was free. Free from what he looked like, what he wore, what he ate, where he lived etc. To him it never mattered what people thought or said about him. He was not pulled off in numerous directions by the concerns that were not central to his endeavor. He maintained his centredness. Such people offer a beacon to us all by their consistency and integrity.
Khadim not Makhdoom
He never tried to become a Makhdoom (one who is served). He was a Khadim (one who serves). He cracked the code of service to others. There is no competition in being a khadim. No one is your enemy; even your enemies become your allies. The conflict only starts when you demand that others ought to serve you. He demonstrated that unconditional service produces love and love produces unconditional service. I once read somewhere that if you want to be a Makhdoom, be a Khadim first. People will themselves make you their Makhdoom. How well Edhi demonstrated this. He was given an emperor’s farewell by people. There was no compulsion, everything was arranged and delivered spontaneously by the people.