The OK Corral
Recently our team experienced a life-changing three days at Dr. Lew Sterrett’s ranch in Oklahoma. Dr. Lew is not only a board member here at Lamplighter but also a life-long friend of mine; and not only a friend, but one of my favorite teachers that makes biblical leadership principles come alive!
For example, one of the truths we learned this week was that privilege should never be given without proven responsibility. Another truth illustrated with horses was that they should never be forced to obey. They must be influenced. When they submit to the master they will experience reward and rest. When they are stubborn, they can remain in the fold, be fed, and protected, but they lose their right to peace. Peace, rest, and reward are gained only through a surrendered will. The more surrendered we are, and the more willing we are to submit to our Master’s will, the more grace is given to lift us up (James 4:6-8).
One of the deepest truths that sunk into my heart and mind was in a special activity that Dr. Lew and his team had prepared for us: The Cattle Drive. The object of the game was to try to get as many cattle (balloons) to market as possible. At the end, large balloons got top dollar; a smaller balloon would get a lower amount. The team who had the most cattle and most profit were the winners.
Each team was to blow up 10 balloons and brand them with a sharpie marker. Then, when the horn blew, each team would wrangle their “cattle” together and set off!
Along the way, there would be obstacles. There were rustlers that could steal, prickers that would kill (burst the balloons), rivers that would drown (a spray hose), mazes where our cattle could get lost (hay bales that would pop our balloons) etc…
Now, please understand something; when I’m about to engage in anything competitive, my personality type moves from Type A to Triple A! You should have seen me with my cattle. No one was going to steal my cattle or prick it with a thorn or drown it. I started out of the gate like a bucking bronco!
The rest of my team was behind me. I could hear balloons bursting left and right—but not mine! I pushed rustlers away; I braved the water hose; no one was going to hurt my cattle! I arrived at the finish line (market) way before the other team. I WON! You should have seen me; I was so excited. I held my balloon proudly and received top dollar for my big fat balloon! Ahhhh….so fulfilling; a job well done.
Behind me were red and blue shreds of balloons throughout the course. I just smiled and held my balloon, waiting for my reward. Then came the announcement of the winners! I stood there proudly with my red balloon in my arms. Dr. Lew asked if we knew what the goal of the exercise was. Obviously, it was to beat the opposing team to the finish line!
“No,” he said. “The goal was to get as many cattle to market as possible. This was NOT a competition!” This was supposed to be a group effort to get our cattle to market without killing them. I stood there with the growing taste of humble pie in my mouth. How did I miss the goal? It was clearly stated from the beginning. I’m so competitive, I missed the instructions! My cow made it to market, but there were fourteen dead cattle behind me. Oh no! Could I be this way in life too? Are there those behind me that need my care and love and protection? Do I need to slow down and look out for those in need?
In the book Wild Goose Chase, I read about a study conducted by two Princeton University Psychologists. Half of the seminary students were given an assignment to prepare a sermon on the Good Samaritan, the other half on various topics. Once the assignment was completed, each student was then told to go to a certain building on campus to present their sermon.
But there was a setup that would take the students by surprise. An actor was hired to portray someone who was mugged and left beat up in an alley; the same alley that each student would have to pass on their way to the presentation building. There was also one additional variable introduced by the researchers. Some of the seminarians were told to hurry because they were running late while the others were told to take their time because they were early.
Here's what the study uncovered. Each student was confronted with what seemed to be a real-life situation of someone in need. But only 10% of the students who were told to hurry stopped to help. Sixty-three percent of the students who were told that they had extra time offered assistance.
The researchers concluded that it didn’t matter if your life goal was to help people. What mattered most was that you were not living life in a hurry. The words, “You’re late” and “hurry” turned ordinarily compassionate people into people who were indifferent to suffering.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatian church, “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” To the Romans, he wrote,
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; honor one another above yourselves; Not slothful in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; faithful in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; practice hospitality” (Romans 12:10-13).
Please don’t misunderstand. There’s nothing wrong with good healthy competition. But I have to wonder if a hurried and overcompetitive life restricts our ability to love meaningfully. As I ponder Paul’s admonition, I see that it is possible to live life with zeal, diligence, and passion, as long as we channel those energies through love by serving others.
Sincerely,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.
Recommended Reading and Listening:
Crown of Success book/audio (Ages 6+)
Rising to the Top book/audiobook (Ages 9+)
More than Conqueror (Ages 9+)
Manchester House (Ages 9+)
Come what May book/audiobook (Ages 12+)
