scaling reflections
I took to the rock walls today for the first time in 10 years. Being the monkey that I was when young (I was pretty good at shimmying up basketball hoop poles and swinging on the monkey bars etc etc), I relished the opportunity to relive my childhood days and figure out the routes embedded in the walls. I managed to successfully complete 6 out of 7 climbs (I think) before my fingers began to refuse hold on to anything other than its fingernails.
I was discussing with dearest M that the tendency for most rookie climbers (i.e. myself) was to use their hands to hoist themselves up instead of their legs—I commented that even though I wanted to use my left leg push myself up, because I seldom used it it was almost ineffective in pushing my entire body up when I needed that boost. Different parts of my body are also aching (and almost cramping) now as I type—a sign that these muscles are seldom used.
It struck me, then, that if we were to speak of the Church scaling greater heights, how essential it is that Body of Christ, the Church, has to work together to do so. Since each part of the body has its own set of muscles, the weaker muscles would require greater effort in the climb, and the only way to train it up would be to strengthen it and wield it more often so that the particular limb would better facilitate the climb.
What are we looking at when we seek to build up the Body of Christ? Do we strengthen the weak so that the entire Body can move forward more easily? Scaling walls do not simply employ the use of one or two body parts. It involves the entire body. Granted, some parts may currently be weaker, but imagine the ease when the entire Body is well-balanced and built, and truly moves together in equal strength as one to bring itself to scale greater heights... May the Lord help us all.
I was discussing with dearest M that the tendency for most rookie climbers (i.e. myself) was to use their hands to hoist themselves up instead of their legs—I commented that even though I wanted to use my left leg push myself up, because I seldom used it it was almost ineffective in pushing my entire body up when I needed that boost. Different parts of my body are also aching (and almost cramping) now as I type—a sign that these muscles are seldom used.
It struck me, then, that if we were to speak of the Church scaling greater heights, how essential it is that Body of Christ, the Church, has to work together to do so. Since each part of the body has its own set of muscles, the weaker muscles would require greater effort in the climb, and the only way to train it up would be to strengthen it and wield it more often so that the particular limb would better facilitate the climb.
What are we looking at when we seek to build up the Body of Christ? Do we strengthen the weak so that the entire Body can move forward more easily? Scaling walls do not simply employ the use of one or two body parts. It involves the entire body. Granted, some parts may currently be weaker, but imagine the ease when the entire Body is well-balanced and built, and truly moves together in equal strength as one to bring itself to scale greater heights... May the Lord help us all.
Comments
Post a Comment