Several weeks ago our “On the Road” had us exploring the
idea of wilderness roads through the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
(acts 8). This “wilderness road” that
Phillip and the Ethiopian travelled, paralleled the “wilderness experiences” of
Scripture, those roads full of the unknown, unexpected and uncomfortable. They require an element of risk and danger,
but are almost always full of great adventure and beauty. These roads are where God’s people experience
transformation often through adversity or challenges in order that we may be
conformed to the likeness of Jesus and in order that we might better serve
God’s mission in the world.
This past week, I traveled one of the wilderness roads with
103 incredible youth and adults on the KCLYC Mystery Mission Trip. Our adventure took us into the wilderness
of Colorado and the Big Thompson Canyon as we served those whose homes had been
severely damaged in last September’s flooding.
Seventeen inches of rain over a large area in a three day span, creating
significant flooding for all the residents of the Front Range, but especially
those who lived along the Big Thompson Canyon as water was released from the
Estes Park Lake in order to prevent a greater catastrophe.
For four days, we moved debris of various kids, mostly rocks
and branches from the piles of sand and dirt that the force of the river had
created. These elderly homeowners had
nor resources to be able to accomplish the task themselves. In addition to the debris removal, we were
also able to do some “serious dry-walling” for these homeowners. After of second day of debris removal, some
of our group became somewhat discouraged with the mundane task. Let’s
face it, moving heavy rocks in the hot Colorado sun is not very glamorous. Later that evening in our worship/sharing
time, we addressed the frustration.
Actually, the youth took it upon themselves to explore the source of the
frustration. There was the sense that
there efforts were insignificant when compared to other tasks needing to be
done. But they began to realize that the
debris removal had to happen in order that something greater could be accomplished
at a later time.
Our kids began to understand a great principle in God’s
economy: the Kingdom of God is about
the “little”. It’s the story of the
mustard seed, the yeast in the bread, the widows and the orphans, the
disreputable sinners, the greatest becoming servants, the last being made first and the least of
these. It’s the story of the Phillip and
the Ethiopian, where Phillip is told to go travel a wilderness road, for the sake
of a single Ethiopian Eunuch, a highly marginalized individual.
We hit the work-site that next morning with a renewed sense
of purpose. Youth were eagerly
volunteering to do debris removal. We
were able to put egos aside and work wholeheartedly as though we weren’t
working ourselves or even the homeowners, but God himself (Colossians 3:23). And as a result, we were transformed as a
community of people. As individuals took
a risk in putting personal agendas aside and doing the task that wasn’t very
fun or noticeable, God began to transform us to a different type of community.
Wilderness roads are never the roads of the masses. Our culture kind of frowns upon them for they
require us to put our personal destinations and agendas asides. And yet that’s where a life of adventure and
beauty is truly found. Just ask Phillip
and the Ethiopian Eunuch as well as those 103 youth and adults who were brave
enough to travel a wilderness road last week.
“But small is the gate and narrow the road
that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:14
TGBTG
Scott McDonald
 |
| Scott McDonald, Dir. of Adult Discipleship & Outreach |
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