Fr.Terry writes.....
©St. John the Evangelist 2004. R.Woolbar.
Last month I was able to go along to the ATC (Air Training Corp) camp for a day at
Carlton. When I arrived the cadets (aged between 13 to 18 years of age) had already
been split into teams and each team was about to set off on their particular activity. I
decided to go along with B team, as they were going to be climbing ropes on the
assault course. Along with the each team there was an adult squadron leader and an
instructor who would be grading them on the performance and success of their
activities. Once the team had been reminded about the importance of teamwork they
did fairly well with the climbing activity – with everyone being made to feel part of the
team, including one young teenager who was terrified of heights. In fact the team even
managed to persuade this young man to climb up a twenty foot pole and jump off it
into thin air, in what was called a leap of faith. Speaking from experience, it is not
easy standing on a square 18 inch platform on top of a twenty foot pole and hurtling
oneself out towards a ball that is a good 5-7ft away from you (although for safety
reasons you are harnessed to a rope).
On the afternoon B team went off to Preston Park where they were to build a raft using
barrels, ropes and poles, and then get their squadron leader across to the other side of
the pond and back again, though he was not allow to help them build a raft, nor give
them advice, which I can imagine was very frustrating for him – I know it took all my
efforts to keep quiet when they built a raft that can only be described as a log, with the
barrels lined up one in front of each other. Anyone with half an ounce of common
sense knows that the moment they all got on it, it would tip one way or the other – the
squadron leader certainly knew, as he refused to get on it until they had tested it out.
And of course within moments it tipped over with everyone getting soaked (including
Shannon, who with much effort had managed to keep herself dry up until this time).
I’m afraid none of their efforts fared much better, though they at least managed to
build something that looked like a raft, if not very sturdy. They did eventually get the
raft across the pond and back again, but failed their mission as they walked it across,
making the poor squadron leader walk across even though he was so supposed remain
dry. Though they got very few points for the success of their mission, if any at all, the
instructor give them extra points for their team work, and was in fact extremely
impressed by their ability to work together as a team. Like the rope climbing on the
morning, everyone was made to feel part of the team, and all gave input in some way
or other. And despite a number of failures and the raft falling apart a number of times
there was no blaming or arguments – they simply began a new hair brained scheme
‘together’. The sense of team spirit and camaraderie was so great that I wanted to join
them, even though I don’t like cold water and getting wet.
As Christians, we would probably do well to learn from this ourselves. Whenever
there is a good sense of team spirit and camaraderie it draws others towards it, with
many yearning to be part it. If as Christians we are to encourage others to come to
know Christ and be part of his Church, then we need to be seen as having a good sense
of team spirit and fellowship. Admittedly this is not always easy, as with any large
family or group of people there are differences of opinions, with each individual or
group believing that they are in the right. Maybe here we would do well to learn from
the cadets in B team. Throughout their activity of building a raft things didn't always
go the way they would have liked them to. Sometimes it ass down to an individual and
sometimes the fault of a number of individuals, more often than not though he was
down to the lack of a good idea. But not once did the cadets argue with one another or
seek to blame anyone else when their attempts failed. Instead they jollied each other
along and in high spirits began yet another attempt. With a bit of advice and direction
they would have probably succeeded in their mission, as they were very close to
building a good solid and sturdy raft at one point.
If we can work together as Christians, even though things will not always go the way
we would like them to; if we can support one another, even those we find ourselves at
odds with, then we can build our Church into a place that is filled with the Spirit and
fellowship, we can build our church into a place where people will yearn to be part of.
And unlike the cadets raft that fell apart even though it was pushed along, our church
will be a sturdy ship that will sail its passengers towards God's Kingdom of Heaven.
Fr. Terry.
When a failure is a success.