Oar what?

So, what if I don’t need anyone’s help?  What if I can just do it myself?  DON’T!

Several years back I took at trip to Colorado with some men from our church on an adventurous rafting experience.  I will never forget the words from our guide that went something like this:  We are going to have fun today.  The waters are high, which makes for a bumpy ride.  But, this will not only be a fun ride, this is a serious ride.  Everyone must follow instructions, listen to my voice and do exactly what I say.  If one of you does not do what you are told to do, your slothfulness will affect the rest of your rafting crew.  We must work together!

Do you know what I’ve found out about church life and other organizations…?  The people that complain the most about the direction or decisions are those who don’t have an oar.  Those who do have an oar contribute to the mission and speed of the vehicle.

I shared that analogy in a teaching at a church I pastored.  A certain man approached me the next week carrying a weathered, well-used oar.  He said I know what you mean… With a slight speech impediment, he shared his story of difficulty and triumph over throat cancer.  He continued by saying that it was a team, his immediate family and church family, which saw him through that challenging time.  And when the doctor said that he wouldn’t be able to lift his arm for months after the surgeons removed the cancer, soon after the surgery he set out for his planned rafting trip. He conveyed to me that he knew exactly what I was saying…that it takes the team.  And, then he gave me that oar. (Today, I have it displayed in my office at work with the words engraved: PARTNERSHIP.)

There are not many big plans that can be carried out without a team. Frankly, there’s gonna be some projects that we can do on our own within the church or the organization.  The challenge is to think bigger and broader: what benefits would come out of soliciting other ideas and participants?  And, be challenged not to assume that much can be done without the participation and ideas of others.  We are always smarter than me!  Oar what?  What gives you better results than diverse thoughts and differing opinions? Give people a piece of the project by handing out the proverbial oars, and let’s get this thing movin!