Anything can happen when the Harvest Ministry Teams are traveling. One year, the Harvest Trailer had a bent axle. We were warned that the bent axle would continue to wear out the tires rapidly until it was fixed, but we had to keep using the trailer for the three weeks it took for the part to arrive.
During that time, I reflected on similarities between a bent axle and our lives.
The weight in our trailer was good stuff.
We were pretty sure the bent axle on the Harvest Trailer came from a trip where we took a load of water and supplies to Joplin, Missouri, after the 2011 tornado – definitely a good cause. In life, it’s not always bad stuff that knocks us out. For those of us in ministry roles, it’s often the overload of good things that burdens us. We want to keep seeking Jesus about the things we should say yes to and the things we should say no to, so we can keep serving with zeal.
The trailer was designed for hauling, but had its limits.
Our trailer was designed for work, pulling and hauling, but it had its limits. We are all bound by limits such as the number of hours in a day, the amount of money we can spend, and the amount of time we can effectively work. We have to know those limits and stick to them to finish strong in the long haul.
The trailer worked with a bent axle, but wasn’t as effective.
We used our trailer for several months with that bent axle. The worn-out tires were a symptom of the problem. We may experience symptoms when a deeper problem limits our effectiveness.
No one noticed the broken axle at first.
The broken axle wasn’t noticeable at first. It was a concealed problem, an internal issue. So many of our problems remain internal for a while, but they can become public matters if not addressed.
Travel was less smooth when the trailer was overburdened.
When we are overburdened in life, we can’t move smoothly. We will encounter bumps in the road. The smallest things can send us into a frenzy, so that we don’t handle problems well.
We needed someone else to tell us to get things straightened out.
I might never have known about our broken axle or done anything about it if the guy at the trailer shop hadn’t told me. We often get used to things in our own lives. That’s why accountability is so important. We don’t want to become isolated to the point where we don’t have opportunities for others to sharpen us and help us grow.
Getting things right may not be easy or cheap – and it may take time.
Fixing our broken axle took time to wait for parts and do the repairs – and the repairs had a cost. Life can be that way. Turning things around often comes at a cost and/or takes time, which can challenge our patience.
Editor’s Note – This Harvest Ministries Team memory is great reminder to pray for the Harvest Ministry teams as they continue their travels.
May God bless them with safe travels, without van and trailer troubles. May they have amazing experiences. And may many lives be changed through their ministry as they glorify God.
Thanks for that word, Tim. That’s a good one. I might have a bent axle. My worn out tires (or most noticeable symptom) = I’m late to everything. I like everything I do, and I’m highly motivated to honor all my “authorities” with my punctuality, yet when the rubber meets the road, the road files down to the tire well.
On Friday I was asked to cover for a sick co-worker, so I did, saying I’d have to leave no later than 1 pm to get to Fire-Up at my target time (one good deed loaded in my trailer). The coworker taking over for me was late, so I didn’t roll out til 1:25 pm (good deed #2). I drove 50 minutes home and ate a late lunch and packed, but my sister was there. having not seen her for a week, all time-based priorities/goals were put on back-burner for a few moments of sister time (the straw that broke the camel’s back). When I returned to the back-burner, my stew had metaphorically boiled over.
When this happens on a regular basis, I’m sure it’s time to reprioritize, but my priorities seem in line, my motivation justified. Never the less, I guess i have my limitations and praying for God to stop the sun in the sky again is not always the answer. I guess I’ll be unpacking my “trailer” this week and paying to get that “axle” fixed and learn from the experience.