The Narrow Way

As I approached the pasture I knew something was amiss. Nearly all of the cows were tightly huddled up roadside with something in the middle. I slowed down. The object in center became clear, it was one of my favorite cows, and she appeared to be dead. I can only describe it as the sort of thing you see on National Geographic, when a herd of elephants lose a member and they all circle around to encourage the corpse to move, meanwhile protecting it from predators. I’ve never seen cows do this though…

The white cow was on her side with her legs pointing out towards the road. Next to her was a massive tan bull who was using his head to rock her body back and forth while the dozen cows gathered around watched. She looked like a big round barrel with stiff legs. I was en route to dropping my toddler off, so I prayed they’d still be there when I came home.

To my surprise, when I returned 15 minutes later, the white cow was sitting up! I could hardly believe it, she appeared so lifeless just minutes prior. I pulled over and observed them for a moment. Most of the herd had gone back to their routine, but several cows and the big tan bull remained by the side of the infirm one. While I’m sure she isn’t well, I was quite pleased to see she wasn’t dead. Perhaps she will live. 🤷‍♀️

“What a beautiful picture,” I thought.

I can’t help but imagine that these cows, tightly circled around their friend, nudging her to “get up” is a picture of one of the many functions that God has designed the church for. The cows clearly knew something was wrong with her and they came to her side. They also likely knew that if she remained down, she would not be getting back up. Furthermore, as prey/herd animals, they know the risk of being isolated AND down–predators. I think the big tan bull knew all of this, and he wasn’t going to leave her there on her own. He stood by her side and took the lead in encouraging and protecting her, along with about a dozen other cows.

What this makes me think of is the church, and how so many fall to the wayside hoping for the body to come surround and uplift them. Many assume it’s the pastors role, but personally, I think the church has put too much on their “to do list”, and not taken nearly enough responsibility to minister to one another. While it would be nice to see pastors championing the cause of every downed person, in the days of mega churches (or even churches of several hundred), it’s simply not possible. I don’t think that was Gods design anyway, He designed the role of the pastor to be ONE of a 5-fold ministry per Ephesians 4:11.

Yet, unfortunately, that’s what many of us expect from our church “herd.” Too many expect a single big tan bull to be present, leading the charge every time someone is down, and they can’t. Perhaps as a result of thinking “everything is the pastors job,” what I’ve seen an unfortunate amount of times is that people are let down, their needs unmet or worse–unnoticed. 😔 They sink into their seat and believe the lie that they don’t matter because the pastor hasn’t directly reached out to them. The rest is predictable if left unchecked. The person often withdraws and/or gets offended. Their hurt festers and slowly becomes fertile ground for bitterness, while their compassion dries up. I wish I were exaggerating, but I can’t count the number of times people have confided things like this to me. How it must grieve the heart of God to watch one suffer alone. 😔

I don’t believe that’s God’s plan for the church though, to have one person running around trying to meet everyone’s needs and rally some to service. I think instead, He inspires individuals in the body to be like the big tan bull. There is work for everyone who’s committed to regularly meeting, all roles are not wrapped up into one. There’s someone who will notice the down trodden. There’s someone who God nudges to spur the broken on to life. There’s someone who is positioned to defend. And there’s a whole herd of people standing by ready to assist in whatever manner they can. What I’m happy to share is, I have also seen THIS many times! 🙌

I’ve seen the church rally around to pray for the sick, individual members go and encourage the discouraged, pastors make hospital visits. I’ve seen people remember anniversaries of losses, make meals for the sick or for new moms. I’ve seen drives for clothing and household items to help furnish an apartment of an addict trying to get on their feet, or secret money collections for new widows. I have watched people lend vehicles, trailers, and their strength to help folks move when they’re short of hands. I have been there when spiritual orphans have been invited “in” to be family and had tears shed over their sorrows. For all of the times I’ve seen the church “miss it,” when I pause, I think I have been fortunate to see them MAKE IT just as many, if not more times. 🤔

“There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” 1 Cor 12:5-7

But you don’t get to share in this if you’ve not committed to be part of a “herd” so to speak. Or if you’ve hardened your heart over a miss and not lent a hand for a need, you won’t see the beauty that the church can be, despite it’s imperfections. The truth is, I think we all get missed sometimes–the someone’s in our life are having a bad day or are so busy and they fail to notice our struggle. For them, it was an off day, but for the one who got missed—for the one who laid out in the pasture with no one to push them back up and keep them safe while down—it may have been the undoing of their connection to the body. 😔

If that’s you, the one who was missed, I’m so sorry. I’ve been there. And what I’ve had to ask myself is: Have I related and responded to others without error? Have I always circled around the downtrodden? Or is it possible I have missed it once or twice?

I have no doubt that I’ve missed it, and reflecting on all of this makes me realize how important it is to be aware and willing. Someone else’s life might be depending on it. At times in life I’ve been like the big tan bull–protecting, encouraging, and noticing. Other seasons have been more challenging, I can relate much more to the cows standing around waiting to see if their help is needed. If I’m honest, I’ve missed the mark plenty, but often struggled to get over it when others have missed it. Yet if there’s grace for me to fail, then I must extend that same grace to the ones who’ve failed me, right?

I wish I could show you the image in my memory of that bull as he literally rocked a thousand pound cow back and forth. And then to come back and see him standing close to her, as some of the others walked away, he refused to leave her in her vulnerable state.

I see Jesus in that big tan bull. He always sees, always cares, and always protects. He rallies the troops to come and do the same. When we listen, it’s beautiful; when we fail it’s devastating.

Whatever season of life you’re in right now, I pray you have mercy and grace for the misses of the church (people), but also that you’re willing to step up to the plate for the opportunities. Serving isn’t always a position within the church or a duty on a Sunday morning. While those matter, some of the most valuable serving you can do is to genuinely care for, and be aware of, those around you.

As always, thanks for stopping by.