Staying Together

Growing up, summer meant almost non-stop outdoor activity. In my neighborhood, there were enough kids to organize a pick-up basketball game, or a baseball game or a football game, or even a hockey contest (a friend's garage had been transformed into a mini-hockey arena).

Near my house was a field where the baseball and football games took place. We usually played most of the day, stopping only for drinks or snacks at someone's house.

One particular day we played, someone noticed a car driving past the field. There was a man driving the car and it went by very slowly. Most of us paid no attention to the car until it came by again ... and again ... and again.

By the fourth time it circled the field most of us were getting frightened. We were not sure what the guy wanted. He simply continued to circle the field slowly staring at us.

Someone said, "Let's just all go home." Before much movement could take place, one of the older boys responded, "No. We need to stay together."

I admit, the thought of being at home sounded good to me. Of course, I had not thought much about the walk home.

The man circled a few more times, while we stared back at him. There were about 10-12of us and only one of him. The older boy who had spoken up earlier said, "Stay together and eventually he'll leave."

It seemed to take hours, but he finally left. We stayed on the field watching carefully to see if he was going to return. He did not.

We then got in smaller groups to walk home and no one saw the man in the car again. The trouble had left.

When trouble comes looking for you, how do you respond?

Do you leave the safety of the group you are in and try to get home on your own?

Or do you know that being in the group provides you with not only safety, but strength?

Following Jesus is hard. I wish I had it all figured out. I wish my Christian walk was void of sin and bad judgment. It is not, and despite my best efforts most likely will never be free from such trappings. Yet, to make an attempt to get home on my own is to set myself up for a damaging and possibly, faith-destroying walk.

This is why church matters so much. There is a way to get home, but none of us were meant to make that walk on our own. We were meant to be a part of a community, because in such community there is safety and strength.

Churches are flawed, as are leaders of churches (after all they are comprised of people. there is no such thing as the perfect church). But what makes church so important is not the faults committed by church members, but the community that exists among church members.

Church should be a place of safety, as well as a place of strength.

Staying together is the best way to get home.