sails and ballast

A lot of my best thoughts come in conversations with others, may be it’s a case of “iron sharpens iron” as Scripture says.

Ian ( a church friend), had opened up  a conversation on the new testament concept of eldership not being specifically linked (in Paul’s teaching) with the ministry gifts as outlined in his letters. I likened it in some ways for the needs in sailing ships not only for the sails to propel you forward (catching and utilising the winds power), but also the ballast to keep the ship stable and balanced on its journey. Both are vital otherwise in stormy seas you capsize! Ian knows far more about sailing than me so I’ll stop the analogy here before I shipwreck!

I’m writing this from a room at Bawtry Hall during a  Men’s retreat on mentoring which I’ve organised. I think the analogy works at two other levels also. In our personal life unless the “unseen” we have a solid foundation of integrity of character worked on by God’s Holy Spirit then we lack spiritual stability and credibility ourselves. Our works of service can also be affected in that we can be all over the place in our storms, struggling to keep it together. It also occurs to me that in our community or fellowship life within church that visitors or newcomers are often struck by what they see immediately, the sails, the activity, the direction, but unless we fundamentally as churches are stable “down below” at the deeper levels of  generosity of spirit, forgiveness, loving and believing the best in one another and promoting one another over ourselves once again we are undermined and unstable at the centre of who we are together.

I’m excited by “catching the wind”  but I’m convinced unless we our holds have ballast in them we shall struggle at times to stay afloat.