April 8, 2010

Today's reading: II Samuel 19, 20, 21; Psalm 8, 38, 68, 98, 128; Proverbs 8

II Samuel 21:8-9, "But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest."

I was caught by the phrase, "and they fell all seven together". Last week I went to the city and participated in some training for firemen. It was awesome to say the least. One group of men went into the training house to put out the fire that had been set for them. They worked together as one. Then one of the men began to run out of air. At this time they began to get out of the house. The problem was that they left their captain behind. Three men went in and only two came out. When one of the instructors saw the two leave the captain he took the captain by the shoulder and told him to set tight (his air was not running out) and wait for them to come get him when they figured out he was not with them. When they came out of the house they received a stern chewing out from the instructors outside and rightly so.

When you work as a team you have to stay together. I love the saying that became so popular after September 11, 2001: "Everyone goes home." This is how we must operate as a team. Remember there is no "I" in team. If someone on your team is hurting then the whole team needs to go to that member and see what needs to be done to heal or help them.

In the realm of the Church and Christianity it should be the same way. Far too often we tend to "shoot the wounded" so to speak. This ought not to be.

Remember, "Everyone goes home". We also must be like the Marines, "Semper Fi".

How are you doing?