Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday March 29, 2007

My long time friend, Ron Marsh, sent a comment on the bamboo devotions that set me to thinking. Those of us who know Ron are always set to thought when he speaks, for Ron has that rare ability to say, "Hello," and you know in the core of your being that he somehow meant far more than just a mere "hello."

Here is an excerpt from Ron's insightful comment:

"Bro. Larry,
My dad served in the Pacific Theater during WWII. One of his unit's first assignments was to clear an area of pesky, inconvenient vegetation. Machetes, not rifles, were the weapon du jour. (Not exactly ploughshares for swords, but close enough for government work.) Well, Dad had been fishing many times with a bamboo pole and he knew that bamboo was pretty hard stuff. Sooo... He reared back and swung the machete mightily... But bamboo, like any other grassy growth, is soft in its "green" state. (I reckon anything that grows to a height of 90' in such a short time logically wouldn't be very substantial.) The machete, not meeting the resistance that Dad had anticipated, sliced easily through the bamboo... and through Dad's combat boot, splitting the great toe of his left foot (Dad was right-handed) smack-dab down the middle. The closest thing his unit had to a M*A*S*H facility was a first-aid kit and a wannabee medic. Unfortunately, the first-aid kit contained no anesthetic, so the wannabee medic sewed up Dad's toe, sans painkiller, as best he could. And the war went on... Dad carried his "cloven toe" to his grave. A bit wider than most toes, with a bifurcated, overlapping nail."

Thanks Ron, I think you were saying that growing things while in the growing stage are vulnerable? If this is what you meant I certainly agree.

We all know "old Christians" who no longer seem to feel. Chronological age has little to do with this, but at some point people quit learning, quit growing and too often quit feeling. The result is very hardened, compassionless and rock headed men and women whose theme song is, "I Shall Not Be Moved." Over the years I have seen this breed by the thousands as they sit in church, fold their arms, glare at the speaker, stick their nose in the air and silently scream, "Go ahead, Buddy, and see if you can move me." Oh, the joy of hardened saints.

Tragically too many pastors, teachers and others entrusted with the watch care of babes in Christ, go swinging the 'axe' of God's word, trying to cut down the old hardened ones, (bamboo doesn't harden until after the growing), and while engaging in this act of frustration, the ones who shall not be moved are still not moved, and young, tender, growing plants are cut to the core and the growth is hindered by a person or people who themselves are failing to grow in the area of understanding about growth and the sclerosis that accompanies growth stoppage.

Many a pastor, teacher or other leader in God's vineyard are, like Ron's father, going to their grave with a 'cloven toe' due to working too hard at dealing with young in the Lord, still growing saints. Doing this is like shooting yourself in the foot. At least figuratively.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit.

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