Row, Row, Row the boat ...

 A nursery rhyme played in my mind today. It wasn't Baa Baa Black Sheep or London Bridge is Falling Down. It was Row Row Row the boat gently down the stream. Let me make a lesson out of this.

Let's imagine there are seven of us in a row boat and let's pretend we're rather skilled. Rowing in sync, we propelled the boat forward. Because of excellent team work, we were able to maintain a certain rhythmic movement thereby achieving direction, speed and goal. Like an orchestra, we were in harmony. Hold on to this imagination.

In church (especially so in areas of leadership), though there are many of us, we have need to move together as one. Because we're in the same boat, we must have harmony so as to achieve and maintain rhythm in rowing together to move forward. One cannot afford to rock the boat.

Diversity is a gift. The apostle Paul taught about unity and diversity in the Body. "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body ... Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many." (1 Cor 12:12,14). As a church and being in the same boat, we need to embrace unity in diversity. You and I both know not all people think alike, act alike, look alike or have the same opinion, perspective or belief. We are all different yet we are all the same. So when we are put together in a same boat with a given task, there's going to be challenges. In order to get from point A to point B, there must be TEAM WORK.

In a same boat, we are no longer just individuals. We are and we have become a crew and we have a captain. Coming back to our make believe boat of seven, as a captain, I have to lean heavily on my six crew mates. If they don't row, we are not going anywhere. If they do not row in rhythm it won't be a smooth ride. If one or two or three decide not to row, it will take a whole lot of effort for the other three and the journey will neither be quick nor smooth. And as much as the captain rely on the crew, the crew needs a captain to direct and to keep pace by maintaining harmony and rhythmic movements. If none of these can be achieved, then the boat is getting nowhere.

I have been blessed with a wonderful church board all these years in Vineyard. Not only are we able to get along working together, we have been able to maintain rhythm and harmony. We realized the fact that though we are individuals, yet we are a crew. Here's how we work. When we have to arrive at a collective decision, though not all may agree, once a decision is being made, we row together. Instead of folding arms and rebel, we sail together as a team. At the end of the journey, we may discover one of two things. 1) If it works well in the end, those with differing views now will have a new perspective and experience. They will be glad for the effort they put in. 2) If it didn't work out, then those who were rightly correct can say, "It's alright. Now we know. We can learn from this and move on" instead of saying "I told you so". That's the attitude of teamwork. Instead of persecuting one another, we learn collectively how to do or how not to do things. It's a learning process and it's a journey. When we sail into the unknown, there's the element of faith and surprise, failure and success. Faith because risks are involved in the unknown, surprise because we do not know exactly what's in store. Failure and success, it's all part of the journey. That's the reality. As a board, we had our fair share. Overall, the journey thus far was great. We've seen sunrises and sunsets. We've been through storms. And through it all, we have learned to depend of Jesus. We have learned to trust in God. Glory to God. 

Being in Vineyard together, you are and I, we're in a same boat. But I would like to remind us today, though there are different kinds and types of boats, we are (in the eyes of God) life boats. Out in the sea of humanity, there are people waiting to be rescued. Dare we fold our arms and rock the boat? 

So how about  this. Instead of rocking the boat or jumping ship, why not we embrace unity in diversity and put our hands on the oar and row together in harmony? We are not passengers. We are a crew because we have been put together in the same boat by the Holy Spirit and we have a purpose and a destination. Jesus is our Captain. If we look to Him and not let our differences get in the way, if we keep our hands on the oar and row together as one no matter what, Jesus will take us where we need to go. And when we finally arrive, we are going to be glad that we embraced unity in diversity, stayed on the boat and worked together as one. Let's spur each other on. Let's be but a great crew to the glory of our Captain Jesus. After all, we are in the same boat.  Let's shipshape.

Row row, row the boat gently don the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily life is but a dream