A couple of months ago my daughter Baleigh developed a resolve to ride her bike without training wheels. She had put off this feat until she polled her class and learned she was one of the few who hadn't embraced the world of 2-wheeling. Being the class-loving instructional guy i am, I gave her a verbal lesson on everything she needed to know in order to know how to go w/o training wheels; balance, speed, safety, band-aids. I figured since I enjoyed teaching and her being a good listener this would be a piece of cake. Boy was i wrong. Before I knew it i found myself in the grass of our backyard getting my cardio exercise holding onto her seat and she launched out. Phrases such as, "Always keep your eye on where you want to go; and,"Don't Stop peddling" were coming from my mouth. Before I knew it she had gone solo a whopping 5 feet, and I needed a break. On Day 2 I reverted back to oral instruction but quickly learned that was not going to cut it. So, instead of running behind her a few steps, I held on for several laps around the yard and then quietly let go while I kept cheer-leading for her to keep peddling (and don't run into your brother).
As I was feeling like Forest Gump running across America, a discipleship lesson began to flood through my mind. All too often churches can be guilty of meeting people with a deep resolve to grow in their faith but often the next step is to just put them in a class to hear oral instruction from those who are already experiencing faith on two wheels. But such a process isn't good enough (and was not what Jesus modeled). I don't believe people are looking for another class to attend; rather, i believe people desire someone who has been where they are to run behind them throughout life in order for them to strengthen their walk (or ride) through this world.
People need those who will run behind them encouraging, instructing, adjusting, and reassuring. Is it exhausting work, yes. But whoever said coming alongside someone else was easy.
So if you have ever had the desire to grow in your faith but found yourself in a classroom still needing training wheels, I'm sorry. As a pastor, we should have done better. We must do better. I'll run with you.
FYI: by the end of day 3 Baleigh was riding around the block (w/o training wheels).
Happy Monday,
BNall
As I was feeling like Forest Gump running across America, a discipleship lesson began to flood through my mind. All too often churches can be guilty of meeting people with a deep resolve to grow in their faith but often the next step is to just put them in a class to hear oral instruction from those who are already experiencing faith on two wheels. But such a process isn't good enough (and was not what Jesus modeled). I don't believe people are looking for another class to attend; rather, i believe people desire someone who has been where they are to run behind them throughout life in order for them to strengthen their walk (or ride) through this world.
People need those who will run behind them encouraging, instructing, adjusting, and reassuring. Is it exhausting work, yes. But whoever said coming alongside someone else was easy.
So if you have ever had the desire to grow in your faith but found yourself in a classroom still needing training wheels, I'm sorry. As a pastor, we should have done better. We must do better. I'll run with you.
FYI: by the end of day 3 Baleigh was riding around the block (w/o training wheels).
Happy Monday,
BNall
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