Did you get on a bus or rowboat?
Usually when we get on a bus there are some things that we expect. We expect it take us to a certain destination and usually it is not always clear what route it may take to get us there. We rely on it's driver to maneuver us through traffic and obstacles carefully and comfortably. Generally we don't watch every turn and move and lane change. We can drift off into other thoughts and occupy our attention with other things until, or at at least when, something interrupts the bus and regains our attention. Nonetheless, we ride, rely on the driver, and then pop our head up when we get to where the bus was supposed to take us.
The rowboat is different from the bus. The rowboat membership consists of the rowers and the coxswain. The rowers provide the power to move the boat and the coxswain sets the direction and coaches the rowers as a team to achieve the end goal. If we take a seat on a rowboat, we understand that there is an oar for us. We would also understand that we play a significant part in helping the entire group move forward.
In this analogy, our CONGREGATION is the rowers...and that includes its leadership. Jesus is the coxswain. Please understand that in a rowboat the rowers are looking backwards and the coxswain is the only one looking forward. Our coxswain is not yelling, stroke, stroke, stroke! He is yelling, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! When we listen, REALLY LISTEN for THAT cadence call, it is there and onl there that we will find our unity.
Yours in Christ,
Adrian