Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Oxen are gross!

Wisest dude in the world once wrote: "Where there are no oxen, the barn is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest (Proverbs 14:4)." Seems like we all want harvest. Got that part down. Also seems like we buy into the part about needing oxen to get the job done. Makes sense, too.

The trouble comes when we really stop and think about the reality of having oxen in the barn. Seems agreeable at first until they start slobbering everywhere. They stink, and they tear up the place. That and they go to the bathroom more than seems physically possible. Who wants a nasty barn? Who wants to care for and clean up after oxen?

The truth is: too many people in leadership. Good leaders want harvest. They also usually want clean barns. Not happening. Great leaders learn to expect the mess that oxen - the very tools for harvest - bring with the process. I once heard Rick Warren say that ministry was messy. Ya think? Yet so many people in ministry look and act completely baffled when progress leaves in its wake a pretty big mess. The mess includes fatigue, frustration, defensiveness, offended church members, inconvenienced staff, criticism. At the same time, according to Solomon, it takes the oxen to get the work done. And there's just no way to have a clean barn that's full of oxen. If you know this up front, it sure makes the barn cleaning easier.

1 comment:

  1. I never thought of it that way. I guess that means there will be messy classrooms as well. That's for sure!

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