The Other Side of the Fence......

****Update---I went home yesterday after writing this post & during the evening we had 2 cows get out! Go figure! (Also, I've edited and added to the post below).

Good-day to all!

I feel sure by now each of you are getting sick and tired of my living life as a cowgirl stories- but I would be amiss if I didn't share this new one with you! The Drain family has been having a bit of trouble keeping our cows from getting out of their protected (fenced in) area. Every month we have at least one or two get out and within the last two weeks it has happened multiple times.

On a side note -let me just say they rarely ever get out when Chad is home. Usually this blessed event happens when I have just showered, dressed, fixed my hair & makeup and am on my way down the driveway for work! And it usually happens on the most humid days of the week! So, there have been mornings that I have spent anywhere from one to two hours chasing cows around the neighborhood and through one field to the next- and in my good clothes to boot! I feel sure you are unaware of the time it takes to get this old gal fixed up in the mornings. Believe me-nothing makes for a bad hair day like humidity and chasing cows! (Need I say more?) Really- somedays I had to have a 'get ready for work' DO-OVER! And, oh, does this ever make for a really bad morning! By the time I get to work I have had three to four confession times with the Lord over my bad attitude about cows (and not to mention my husband- because they are HIS cows)!

Just so you know my answer to the chasing dilemma is 'Beef- It's What's for Dinner"!

Okay- enough of the complaining! There is something out of all this that God gave me in the midst of my frustration and I want to share it with you. When our cows get out they do so because the grass is truly greener on the other side of the fence. And- if you know anything about pasture fields you know because of drought issues many people are having to feed their livestock hay instead of grass- the Drain's happen to be one of them! So the cows get out and go about eating the greener grass on the other side of the fence (because our property is surrounded by pasture fields that don't belong to us).

What amazes me most about this situation is the cows left inside our fence begin to bawl for those on the outside. I haven't decided whether they just want the greener grass too and are too scared or stupid to figure out how to get through the fence themselves. Or if they realize that their family members are in an unprotected area and are now subject to the elements that freedom offers. They are no longer within the safety of the herd or of their master's fence (or protection). All sorts of things could happen (and has happened) to those who have captured their freedom like getting chased by dogs (or coyotes), getting in the road (and almost getting hit by a car) and not to mention getting tangled up in the fence in their great escape!

The next thing I have noticed is while I am out looking for the cows that are out is many times I will find them along side the fence surrounding our property looking for a way back in and bawling. And here is where my compassion comes in. It just breaks my heart to know they so desperately want back in but can't figure out how. You see, even though the grass appears greener on the outside there is nothing like being within the safety of their home embraced by the protection and love of their family.

In seeing all this I realized when the body of Christ works as it should- life for us ought to look a lot like my cow issues. When a member of the body ceases to join in on corporate worship and fellowship the other members of the body should be bawling for their return. Why? Because we are a family- and families love and care for one another. And, because we know the longer you stay outside of fellowship (the fence) the more unsafe life becomes.

Have you heard the song by Casting Crowns called 'Slow Fade'? The lyrics of the song totally reminds me of what can happen when Christians stay outside of fellowship with those in the Body of Christ. The chorus goes like this:

"It's a slow fade when you give yourself away; It's a slow fade when black and white turn to gray; Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid- When you give yourself away. People never crumble in a day- It's a slow fade. The journey from your mind to your hands is shorter than you're thinking. Be careful if you think you stand- you just might be sinking."

This song was actually inspired by the idea that we can fade away from Christ and obedience to him through one little compromise at a time. And, many times the first compromise comes with one Sunday service here and there- next one small group meeting here and there and so on. And all the while we 'think' we are standing on solid ground.

We read in Acts that the early church had a pattern (Acts 1-8). They would come together for the "apostles' teaching, for fellowship, for the breaking of bread, and to pray" (Acts 2:42) then they would go back out into the world and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They didn't go back out into the world because the grass was greener- they went back out to tell the wonderful story of Jesus Christ who had died for their sins, rose again and is coming back one day. You see meeting together became a time to refuel- to encourage each other and learn so that they could go back out into the world.

All this leads me to this conclusion- I see two problems within the church today- first, some have stayed too long inside the fence. We like our fellowship and protection but we've forgotten to bawl over those who are lost on the outside of the fence. We no longer bawl for those who don't even know about the 'inside' of the fence or for those who know about it but can't seem to find their way back inside. Beloved, even cows are sometimes lead outside the fence by their masters.

Second, some have stayed too long outside the fence. We have those who have named Jesus Lord but never come inside the fence for teaching, prayer, encouragement, accountability and fellowship. They have lost the balance that the early church modeled in Acts 1-8. And, if we listen- we might just hear them bawling because they've been on the outside so long - they've forgotten the way back in. And, don't forget those who are bawling because they are just totally lost and don't even know why and don't know the way home to the safety of the Master.

I don't know if this makes any sense to you at all but I hope it will help you to stop and think. Maybe even bawl a bit over one who is outside the fence- over the one who has lost his or her way or the one who never knew the way inside to begin with.

Blessings,
Lori