A Parable

Unless you are a long-time member of the Churches of Christ, this story, this parable will have very little meaning to you.  In fact, it probably wont make any sense at all.  But if you are, as Patrick Mead would say, part of "our tribe," this will make a lot of sense.

As you may or may not know, Jesus frequently told stories (parables) to make a particular point easier to understand.  We have all heard or read the parable of the Prodigal Son, or the Good Samaritan.  The following is my feeble attempt to write a church-related parable.

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I have always been pretty conservative by nature.  My cars of choice have been Fords or Chevys.  Nothing special or fancy, but something dependable, something comfortable.  My parents drove the same type of car, my grandparents, even most of my aunts and uncles.  Sure, there might be a Chrysler or Dodge in there.  Still a conservative car, but one with an extra feature or two

For most of my life it never once entered my mind to get a different car.  Why should it?  I was happy with what I was driving and no desire to change,  Ok, I admit I might look at one of the sports cars from time to time and might even wonder about them, but that was not who I was, or so I kept telling myself.

But as I aged, or matured if you will, I started reading about these new cars.  Cars that would still take you to the preferred destination of your dependable vehicle, but these vehicles had something extra, something tangible, accessories if you will, accessories the guardians of the old conservative cars said would never have any role in their old, comfortable vehicles, "It's our tradition," they would say, "to drive these cars just like or daddies did.  If it is good enough for them, it is good enough for me."

Slowly these other vehicles started to intrigue me.  I would talk to my friends about them.  Some, shared my curiosity.  Some might look at me as if I confessed to mass murder and walk away shaking their heads, wondering where I went wrong.

Over time some, actually more than some, traded in their old, tired vehicle for the one with all the accessories.  You know what, lightning didn't strike them.  The newer vehicle was comfortable and still got them to their destination.  They were still part of the tribe, but others dismissed them, saying they could no longer drive together, or park in the same lot.

I recently test-drove one of these newer vehicles and I must say I liked it.  The ride felt quite comfortable despite the new accessories.  I was happy.  But that is not to say I didn't have questions; I have one for sure I need to do some more study on.  I reminded myself that traditional vehicles, while comfortable and mostly dependable, having one of them as my vehicle of choice was not the law.  Nowhere could I find in the traditional car care book that I was restricted to one type of vehicle.

I am instructed, no matter what I drive, to love it, and be obedient to it, not to do any crazy driving.  I may take another test drive.  It may be exactly what I need.