Are you an elephant?
By Eric Haselhorst
Associate Director, Stewardship
Editor’s note: The following column will appear
intermittently in the
“Elephants have been trained and used by
humans for over 4,000 years. How is it possible for a 180 pound man to restrain
an 11,000 pound elephant with a piece of rope and a wooden stake? When an
elephant is very young, it is tethered to a four foot long wooden stake driven
into the ground. This stake is physically able to hold the young elephant
despite repeated attempts to escape.
“After many unsuccessful attempts to
escape, the young elephant eventually believes that escape is impossible. This
belief is carried into adulthood. When the elephant is full grown, it could
easily break free from the stake – yet it never attempts to do so. This
powerful and intelligent creature is held captive by nothing more that its own
thoughts.”
-- Kit Pharo, Pharo
Cattle Company
This story is very telling about how we
humans approach our lives. Do you suppose you might have a few preconceived
thoughts or ideas that are holding you back?
Are you tethered to situations or traditions from which you could easily
break free?
Stewardship in your life may vary well be
like an elephant tethered to a stake. Many of us, though faithful Christians,
still keep a part of ourselves from Christ. Whether it be money, positions,
activities, or habits, some part us that is ours. There is curious security
calling something “mine”. But Jesus does not teach that. Everything is God’s.
All the stuff we own and all the things we do are very good and we are expected
to enjoy the world we are given.
But everything has a place in our lives.
Read Ecclesiastes 3 1:8. Too often we are taught that the extra time at work
brings status and more money. That allowing our children to
be in another activity, in an already crowded schedule, will make them better
people. That the latest gadget or fashion will raise
our status with friends and family.
So what are we to do? Number one, we have
to stop behaving like elephants. It has to be repeated that everything is God’s
and we are only his caretakers. He is the loan officer and we are the
borrowers.
A steward understands the place of all the
goodness we are given and appreciates the gifts. So begin with prayer. It does
not have to be an elaborate prayer service. You will rarely find me in a chapel
in traditional forms of prayer. But you will find me outside on a walk enjoying
what Christ has made. Being
in his presence does not mean you have to be in a church, although the
Eucharist should be our first and highest form of prayer. It can be as simple
as being at your desk and inviting him into your day and thanking him for it. Or behind the wheel with the radio off letting God in.
Jesus wants into our lives if we let him.
Simple moments allow him to work in us and guide our way.
Next time I will ask if you are a Turkey
Buzzard.