Leave Nothing.

Last week I was helping out at a school camp. My job was to drive a car and trailer to the camp site. In the trailer were the students bags, tents, pillows, and thin bed mattresses.

During the drive to the location two of the foam mattresses flew out of the caged trailer and I lost them on the road somewhere. The sunlight was running out and I decided not to turn around and go hunting for the missing items. I had a lot of good excuses; the light was going fast, I was towing a trailer and was worried about turning around on a busy highway, I thought that the bed mattresses were not that costly, I was not strong enough to do it, and I wasn't sure where they left me.

For me the temptation to continue on my way was quite strong - it required a lot of effort to be responsible and collect the items. I was lazy and fearful, so chose to leave them. That night I got to the campsite before the sun went down which was great but two students slept on the hard ground.

Two days after the camp I was driving my own car around town when I heard a metal noise, and saw something round roll away from my car onto the verge of the road. I was not sure what it was or if it belonged to my car or if I had just clipped something already on the road.

For a minute I thought about it, still driving forward, then remembering what had happened on the way to camp, I made the choice to stop and check my car to see if anything was missing. My front left tyre/wheel was missing it's hubcap... once I saw this I hopped back into my car, turned around headed back a bit and searched for my missing piece. I found it easily and placed it inside my car - to be fixed back on later.

I was so tempted not to go back and get it... because I am lazy and tend to think of only the now/present. My car would of looked very weird having 3 silver wheels and one completely black. Slowly if we allow things to drop off we end up in a heap.... a heap of a car, a heap of mess, a heap of things that don't work quite well - as pieces may be missing.

Some people we have meet in our communities who were once walking with the Lord and are now struggling... when we see them it may be easy to keep on going but we should try to stop and pick them up. Often there is wind and speed and some fall off by the way side... we must check regularly that we are not leaving people and property behind.

In the story of the Good Samaritan: some walk past the person in need... but the Samaritan doesn't. It cost the Samaritan time and money to care for the person in need... but he gave it. Both loving people, and doing things well.. does cost, but you leave nothing behind. Not a crumb.

Things given to you for a purpose, and people you cross on your journey should not be left by the wayside.

Blessings,

Akita.
11-5-09

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John 6 v 12

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples,
"Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted."

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Akita Olsen

Bunbury Vineyard Church.
PO Box 1475, Bunbury,
WA 6231, Australia.
www.bunburyvineyard.org.au

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