Herding Turtles.
That’s what it’s like trying to get our Squad from Point A to Point
B! There are 32 of us- 23 members of
Squad A, 4 members of the Media Team, and 5 translators. And on any given day there are anywhere from
5-15 church members traveling with us.
Suffice to say that we walk at different speeds. There are those of us with some pep in our
step. Annie has been known to break out
in a “racewalk” and leave all of us in her dust! There are those that drag their feet-
literally.
The other day there were 31 of us on a bus (not a large bus
mind you, but the kind that has 1 seat on one side of the aisle and two seats
opposite the aisle- a bus made for perhaps 15 or 18 people). Within two minutes of disembarking we must
have been spread out over a ¼ mile or more!
So I have three thoughts. We are all at different places walking at
different paces. It’s good to remember
that. We need to be careful about
comparing ourselves to one another. The
issue isn’t where we are relative to one another; the issue is where we are
relative to Christ.
Secondly, I’ve noticed that sometimes
the speedier turtles get so far ahead of the pack that they end up going the
wrong way. Just because one is moving
quickly doesn’t mean they are going anywhere!
I think we are susceptible to the lie that because we are ahead of
someone else or we are moving faster than the others then we must be farther
along in our walk with Christ. Not
necessarily true.
Finally, I’ve got enough of that “keep it organized” Beaver
in me that it drives me a little crazy when we get so spread out. As the Shepherd of the Turtles I want everyone
to be together. For us, there’s the
safety factor…but there’s also the “efficiency” factor. That is, if we all arrive on-time then we can
start on-time . . . or eat on -time . . . or go home on-time.
I wonder if Jesus ever feels the same about us? I’m talking about His church moving in
Unity. I have no doubt that it is
everyone’s goal to get wherever it is we’re going. I have no doubt that Christians everywhere
want to finish the race set before us.
But wouldn’t we accomplish more if we moved together? I realize there’s a paradox here. Moving together versus moving at different paces. But what would it look like if the Church
moved together in response to the crises in Mozambique,
or the AIDS pandemic in Africa or Child Slavery in Southeast
Asia?
