(Understanding the needs of your people, caring for minorities and individuals, looking deeper than the mainstream)
An
old hill farming crofter trudges several miles through freezing snow to
his local and very remote chapel for Sunday service. No-one else is
there, aside from the clergyman.
"I'm
not sure it's worth proceeding with the service - might we do better to
go back to our warm homes and a hot drink?.." asks the clergyman,
inviting a mutually helpful reaction from his audience of one.
"Well,
I'm just a simple farmer," says the old crofter, "But when I go to feed
my herd, and if only one beast turns up, I sure don't leave it hungry."
So
the clergyman, feeling somewhat ashamed, delivers his service - all the
bells and whistles, hymns and readings, lasting a good couple of hours -
finishing proudly with the fresh observation that no matter how small
the need, our duty remains. And he thanks the old farmer for the lesson
he has learned.
"Was that okay?" asks the clergyman, as the two set off home.
"Well
I'm just a simple farmer," says the old crofter, "But when I go to feed
my herd, and if only one beast turns up, I sure don't force it to eat
what I brought for the whole herd..."
From
which we see the extra lesson, that while our duty remains regardless
of the level of need, we have the additional responsibility to ensure
that we adapt our delivery (of whatever is our stock in trade) according
to the requirements of our audience.
(Adapted from a suggestion from P Hallinger, and based apparently on a story told by Roland Barth)
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