Friday, May 9, 2008

Tin Man

You know the scene: Dorothy; Scarecrow; Oz; following the yellow brick road; desirous of wishes from the Wizard; discover Tin Man.

Rain came too fast. Couldn't reach his oilcan. Standing rust-frozen. Speaking with locked jaw. Motioning with urgent eyes. Oilcan on the stump. Freed a few quick squirts at a time. Freed to be a new partner journeying to the Emerald City.

New scene: me; Lincoln; running through the neighborhood; first since the marathon; stiff; rusty; like Tin Man.

If only there was a puh-chink, puh-chink, puh-chink oilcan for me--would have been wonderful. Friends to apply it--even better. Shared encouragement along the road--the best.

Making Disciples is like this. Sin rusted. Maybe creaky. Even frozen. Unwilling, or unable, to free ourselves. We need the help of friends. Applying the oil of the Holy Spirit. Freed to live as the God of All Creation, not a would-be Wizard, desires. Freed to a life beyond anywhere over the rainbow we might imagine.

So encourage each other and build each other up,
just as you are already doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11, NLT

3 comments:

Shannon said...

rusted... creaky... unwilling... unable... wow, you could be talking about me! i needed to hear that today. :) and funny you should use the wizard of oz analogy... the girls' dance recital next week is a biblical take on that story.

Andrea said...

I like the analogy and the pic of John Mark as well! Hope your baby boy is feeling better real soon.

Anonymous said...

Man... yes, rusted and creaky are exactly how I feel. Sometimes spiritually as well as physically right now. Encouragement and prayer. Thank you!