This month I’m serving as “guest blogger” for a Ministry Training Source/NACYML online course on evangelization. While I’m honored and humbled at the opportunity, I have to admit, I’m feeling pretty well out of my league, especially when they went and introduced me as one of the “instructors!” I’m the guy who usually picks on the instructors, so this is a bit of a role reversal for me.
The first module of the course has centered on the notions of discipleship and apprenticeship. What is the difference between the two? What are the similarities? Where do they overlap? How are they a part of the same process?
One of the discussion questions posed to the group asked us to think about what our parish would look like if we really got “it” and based our ministry to young people on a solid understanding of discipleship and apprenticeship. As I was thinking about this question I ran across a story in Margo’s blog about showing sheep, and I gotta say, it’s ten times better than any image I could ever come up with.
“We were at the Big E fairgrounds in Springfield MA, and between our turns we watched the Border Cheviots compete. I remember the name because Sandi called them “Border Idiots.” They are a bouncy breed, and if you want to know what the word “gambol” means, you can see it demonstrated by a Cheviot.
At one point, one of the Cheviots got loose from its handler. Here is where I witnessed this beautiful image. As the sheep bounced around the pen, impossible to catch, I saw people rise from their seats all around the ring. People from all sides stood slowly, and began to step toward the bouncing sheep. Soon I could see that they were forming a ring around the bouncy devil, slowly closing in on her. Finally the circle closed in around the sheep and someone got ahold of her and returned her to her rightful spot. Satisfied, everyone else went back to their seats for the rest of the festivities.
I have come to see that this was a great example for a church community. When that sheep was bouncing around, out of control, everyone was ready to help- the owner of the sheep didn’t even have to ask, and no one demanded thanks. Everyone cared enough to do their part. Together, they did what one person, or a few people, could never do. And that circle of concern… well, that seems, still, so beautiful to me. Surrounding one in need with a circle of care is just what we should be doing for each other- and especially, I think, for the youngest of us, so often bounding and bouncing out of control. I dream of a church that responds this way. “
See folks…this is why Jesus hung out with shepherds.