The Tent: A safe place for shepherds to reflect together
RegisterRegister   Log inLog in 

fruitfulness

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic
ShepherdLeader.com Forum Index -> While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks -> Day 33: Productivity
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
sutz



Joined: 24 Mar 2008
Posts: 20
Location: Edmonton, Alberta

PostPosted: Sat May 10, 2008 9:34 pm    Post subject: fruitfulness Reply with quote

For awhile on the farm on which I grew up, we had two sheep. I can picture my dad being butted in the head by a sheep that didn't want to be caught. Though we let their fleece grow too long, we did somehow shear these two sheep at some point. The abundant wool was taken to the woolen mills near Carstairs for cleaning and carding (I was a bit stunned to discover that there was such a thing near us in cattle country). The wool was used in 3 quilts, 2 of which I now own. There were two quilts with 2 pounds of wool; they are terrific winter bedding. The first quilt we made at home with a large frame and a quilting bee (a number of women gather and sew bits of cloth together to construct the quilt). I might have been about 12, and it was my job to sit under the framed quilt (about 2.5 feet off the ground) and pass the needle back up through the quilt. This quilt was made with a whopping 4 pounds of wool, and I've never been able to sleep under it, not even in -40 degree weather (although it would probably be great for sleeping outside in those temeeratures)! I've always been amazed by how much wool and how much warmth those two sheep produced, and so passively.

I have certainly confused productivity on a spiritual level with busyness and activity. My workaholic tendencies mean that I always prefer accomplishing things, value getting things done, and keep myself and those around me busy. And yet the wool produced by sheep is not the result of hyperactivity, nor is the fruit of the Spirit grown through intentional spiritual cultivation. It is simply the result of being "in Christ." I recall reading that Corrie ten Boom said that "busyness is moral sloth in the spiritual life." That in fact, being busy is counterproductive to spiritual growth. I wonder how much real fruit I have not developed because I have been too busy attempting to grow some artificial fruit.

Our culture is against us in this. Everyone is busy, and as a culture we value activity, we value fulfilment over family, we value reaching our potential over being with others, etc. A pastor I once worked with said, that if we clear the church calendars so that people won't be busy with church activities, in 6 months, their schedules will be filled with other things. And I think he was right. He wasn't advocating activity for its own sake, but for discipleship, community and outreach. How do we model and encourage others in biblical simplicity, in Sabbath, and in allowing the Spirit to work through us?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
ShepherdLeader.com Forum Index -> While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks -> Day 33: Productivity
Post new topic   Reply to topic All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   ProfileProfile   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group