Don't Hand a Blind Man a Map

By Chris Archinal

It must have been 1991.  I was the Assoc Youth Minister at FBC Lubbock while attending Texas Tech University.  FBC was 3 blocks from the campus so it was easy for me to park my Jeep CJ-5 at the church and simply ride my bike to class.  One afternoon, my twin brother, Jason, was running late for class.  Instead of fighting to find a parking place he parked at the church and borrowed my bike.  A few hours later he returned.  He came to my office and when I saw his face I could tell something was wrong.  I asked him what was bothering him and he told me this story.  

After class Jason was unlocking my bike from the rack and I guess the noise he made as he loosened the lock caught the attention of a blind man who was standing nearby with his dog.  The man, looking like a stereotypical blind person, complete with the stick, dark glasses and dog, looked Jason's direction.  He said, "Excuse me, could you help me?  I seemed to have lost my way." As it turns out the man was headed to the library and through a series of wrong turns he was totally lost.  Of course, Jason stopped what he was doing and immediately helped him.  Jason took him by the arm and walked him towards the library until he looked at Jason and said, "Ah, now I know where I am.  Thank you for the help, and have a great day."  Jason double-checked, maybe even triple-checked to make sure he was certain to continue on alone and watched the man as he navigated across the street and down the sidewalk that led to the library.  Jason watched as the man made his way up the library steps and only when he had safely entered in did he go back to the bike rack.  

I'll never forget the expression on Jason's face as he told me this story.  His eyes filled with tears, choking back the frog that seemed to have nestled in his throat.  Then he asked me, "What do you think I am supposed to learn from that?"  We sat and talked about the obvious lesson, which is to be grateful everyday for something we so take for granted...our sight.  But digging deeper God revealed something more.  You see, we encounter spiritually blind people everyday...people that don't know Jesus.  And whether they ask us outright, or just with their actions, many are saying, "Excuse me, could you help me?  I seemed to have lost my way."  So what do we do when we see someone who is lost...someone who has lost their way?  

Draw a map: Jason, knowing the campus layout very well, could have drawn the man a very nice map.  He could have handed the man the map and said, "Here are step by step directions...good luck!"

Point: Jason could have put his hand on the guys shoulder and pointed saying, "Yup...you wanna go that way."

Verbal instructions:  "No, no, you're waaaay off.  If you want to go to the library you need to...." and then proceed to describe to the man exactly what he needed to do.  

 The bottom line (and ridiculously obvious) truth about those options is....they AREN'T options.  You would never do those things for a blind man.  A map is no good to someone who can't see.  Pointing is just as worthless.  And verbal instructions only make him feel more embarrassed.  The ONLY option Jason had was to do what he did.  To take the man by the arm and "lead him" to the library.  

You want to help those who are blind to Christ?  Assist those who have lost their way?  Lead them.  Don't write down a bunch of scripture and tell them to "follow this Roman road to salvation."  Don't just point them to church, telling them that's where they can "find their way," and don't preach at them using churchy terms they won't understand.  Instead, lead them.  Is it wrong to share scripture, point them to church or verbally share your faith?  Of course not.  In fact, those are definitely supplements to sharing your faith.  But the very best thing you can do is walk through life with them, helping them find their way...God's way.  

Oh, and by the way, you won't be so lucky to have someone walk up and say, "I'm a sinner, what must I do to be saved?"  Your blind person will come to you with life questions, real pain, a financial or marital crisis, or the like.  Each hurt, each issue, each cry out is their way of looking to someone they think can help saying, "Excuse me, could you help me?  I seemed to have lost my way." 

 

Pick on Someone Your Own Size

As a child there was a boy on our street who was just a year or two older than me.  He was at least a foot taller but very lanky and didn't weigh much more than I did.  He loved to pick on me and my friends.  He would annoy us when we were playing house.  He threw pebbles at us when we rode our bikes.  He made fun of us at the bus stop.  My friends and I didn't see that there was anything we could do about it.  We felt pretty powerless.

That is until one day when my much older brother saw what was going on.  Now, you need to understand that my brother, Andy, wanted nothing to do with me.  My brother was much meaner to me than this kid.  However, when he was coming home from high school one day, my big brother witnessed this neighbor kid messing with us.

Before I knew what was happening, Andy grabbed this kid by the shirt collar and told him he'd better pick on someone his own size.  Something to the effect of: "There's a new sherriff in town so scram!"  My friends and I just looked at each other, jaws dropped, and let it sink in.  Here was Andy, who had no use for us, coming to our rescue!  We were liberated!  We were free from the tyranny of the neighborhood bully!  Victory!

Now that I am an adult I struggle with other bullies in my life.  Unfortunately, they are not as easy to control as the street bully.  Ephesians 6:12 explains, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."  Friends, we are fighting bullies we cannot see.

Yesterday, a bully tried to pick on me.  My husband, Chris, had something very stressful happen at work that felt threatening to his future and hence, our family.  At first we felt fearful, powerless and defeated.  We were angry with the people who seemed to be causing this problem until we remembered Ephesians 6. 

We immidiately stopped and prayed.  There's only one person more formidable than a big brother - Big Daddy!  Matthew 7:11 explains it best, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"  We cried out to our Heavenly Father to come to our rescue.  Only the Lord can set evil in it's proper place.  As soon as we prayed and confessed our trust in God, we experienced peace.

Later the same day, Chris got a call from someone with knowledge and influence in this situation and gave us some very reassuring words.  The man's encouragement was appreciated and reinforced our faith that God is at work on our behalf. 

What bullies are you facing today? It may look like a person or a circumstance that is threatening you but look a little deeper. We don't have to sit back and let physical or spiritual bullies paralyze us. Call on Big Daddy. Put your hope in God. Keep your focus on Him and watch Him stand up for you. 

Summer School

Sleeping late, sunbathing, movie watching.  These are terms that describe a typical summer at the Archinal house.  School is out - it's time to play!  We believe in maxing out the fun during summer. I crave this time with the kids and they crave time away from a structured school day.  But does this mean their brains have to turn to mush?  Does playing in the pool all summer long mean their little minds have to get watered down too?  I think not!

Summer is my favorite time, in part, because it's MY time to teach what I think is just as important as reading, writing and arithmetic.  It's Mommy Summer School.  Parents can use summer breaks to teach all sorts of important lessons to their kids.

1.  Spiritual -  Have your kids pick out a devotional book and make it a routine to do your devotionals together each morning before turning on the TV.  Pick out a few key scriptures that your kids can memorize - one per week.  You can even tie scripture memory to rewards.  For example, your child is begging you to take him to see the newest movie?  Have him earn the privilege by assigning one household chore and one memory verse.  Use the extra time of being able to stay up late to tell a Bible story and discuss it as a family.  Encourage kids to ask questions and seek applications.

2.  Financial - Have your kids do chores to earn allowance.  Teach them the three parts of income: tithing, saving, and spending.  Our oldest just started babysitting this summer, she's earned enough to open a savings account.  Banks have special accounts for kids which help them establish good financial habits.  Check it out!

3.  Responsibility - Before you play, you must obey!  Establish daily and weekly responsibilities they must finish before doing anything else.  This teaches kids to have integrity in their work and gives them a sense of pride.  They may bark about it at first but if parents are consistent, kids will soon see it as just something they do each day and not as punishment. 

4.  Self-confidence - When children learn new skills it gives them a strong sense of self.  Teach kids how to make their own breakfast and lunch.  Invite your children to help with grocery shopping, planning and preparing meals.  Let kids have one night a week where they help you make dinner.  Use trips to the store to teach them how to checkout and pay for their items.  It's important for them to learn life skills at a young age and kids love it!  Use hotel stays to teach your kids how to check-in and how to call downstairs for extra towels.  This teaches them how to speak to adults and how to take care of themselves.  It gives them a greater sense of self-respect when they can do things on their own while you are there to support and encourage.

5.  Health and wellness - Be sure they aren't spending too much time in front of the TV or technology.  This can sometimes be hard.  Motivate kids to get exercise through family outings.  Get in the pool, take a bike ride, or even go to the neighborhood Y.  Our YMCA allows children as young as 12 to be trained on exercise equipment.  My kids have done this this summer and they love going to the gym and working out with me.  I love it because it's more family time!

All of this is just the tip of the iceberg and I'm sure you've got many more ideas of your own.  The important thing is to take advantage of the summer hours to establish some great learning opportunities.  Who knew summer school could be so fun!