IT ONLY
TAKES A SPARK...
What do you do when you're bored? Watch television, or read a good book — maybe even THE GOOD BOOK? Perhaps you talk on the phone, or go for a walk. Maybe being bored is such a luxury to you that you just drink it in and enjoy it.
I have to admit that being bored isn't something with which I have much of a problem. I'm either too busy, or too easy to please, or too boring to be bored. Can someone who is boring be bored themselves - by themselves? Hmmmmm. I sense a deep question here - along the lines of "a tree falling in the woods with no one to hear it" kind of thing. Let's quickly change the subject before I get too pensive.
In the odd moment when things slow down a bit, I have been known to stare at the Deer Island Ferry coming into Letete, or the stars in the sky, or the lights on a Christmas tree. If you really want a cheap date, just take me to the mall in Saint John and let me watch the people go by. I could do that for an unhealthy length of time!
Unfortunately, some people have a difficult time dealing with boredom — especially when they've got a purpose and a direction and a desire to serve.
Take one lonely volunteer firefighter with the nearby Blacks Harbour Fire Department, for example. Recently it was discovered that this particular firefighter was responsible for lighting many of the fires around town, including two fires on his own property. Now that's a pretty good definition of ironic, don't you think?
Well, if you think that's ironic, you ain't seen nothing yet! Would you care to venture a guess about this gentleman's last name? Hold on to your fire extinguisher and I'll tell you. This fired-up fireman's last name is "Sparks"! I kid you not! Fireman Sparks was going around town lighting fires. Now, what would you expect from someone with that last name anyway?
I mean, should a guy by the name of Sparks be allowed to be a firefighter? Would you go to a doctor with the last name of "Hacker" or "Slasher"? Would you hire a lawyer with the last name "Shyster"? Would you hire a dentist with the name "Harry Thumbs"? Let's face it, some things just aren't meant to be! All that aside, I think there is a lesson for the church to learn from this guy making an "ash" of himself (sorry).
If we have a purpose to pursue and we aren't pursuing it, something weird is going to happen. Mr. Sparks volunteered his time and energy to protect and serve his community. He did the training and put in the time and he was ready to spring into action at a moments notice. But, the problem was that the opportunities to spring into action were few and far between. Eventually his desire to put out fires got so hot that he ended up starting them instead.
As Christians what is it that we are called to do in the service of our Lord? Well, He called us to "love one another" (John 15:34) and He called us to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Mat. 28:19, 20a). But, the problem is that in most churches these two tasks aren't front and center as they should be. We get sidetracked and confused about our duties and most of us feel unable, or ill-equipped to put out the fires in our community. Guess what happens if a church isn't putting fires out in the world around them? Before too long, the church begins to start fires. Much like Mr. Sparks, we tend to focus on our own land!
I may be a bit simplistic with my thoughts in this regard, but I firmly believe that unity in the Church, love in the Church, service in the Church, and impact in the community would be so much more realized if we would do two things. If we would focus our lives on Christ, and then share that focus with others we wouldn't have the time, or the frustration that comes from sitting in the fire hall; waiting for the alarm to sound.
Finally, for those of you who are presently involved in a Pulpit Committee, let me give you one last word of advice - don't hire any preacher by the name of "Split" or "Longwinded", unless the Lord is clearly calling that person to your congregation!
If you have any comments or questions, please click on my name at the bottom of this page. I promise to write back.
