The Shields Family

Merging into Traffic: It has been about two and a half months since we have added “Huell” to the Shields family. Huell is the name for our new motorcycle that has given us more freedom as a family now that Kimberly has an independent project. For those who don’t know, Huell is the name of a character on a television show. For the record, I have never owned a motorcycle before. Kimberly was hesitant to have a motorcycle in Kenya fearing the dangers of the roads there, then in Brentwood driving over Vasco road, and now in Cebu dodging the neverending swerving taxis, jeepneys, and pedestrians. As a pastor, I see sermons in daily experiences. This may or may not be an added bonus of my life’s calling. But yes, I see a sermon forming from my lessons with Huell on the road. Lesson #1: Huell has different rules than our car. Here in Cebu, it is perfectly acceptable for the swarm of motorcycles to travel inside and outside of the lanes--sometimes on the sidewalks--in order to get to the front of traffic. Through narrow openings, I feel like a running back as I weave my way toward the end zone of my destination. There is arrogance as I pass the crowded cars and jeepneys that are stopped in traffic as I roll by. The same could be said about traveling alone spiritually. It’s faster, I look cooler, I can dictate my own speed, and I change course easily. I am not bogged down by the crowd. I feel like I am accomplishing so much more than those saps stuck in traffic. On the other hand . . . Lesson #2: Danger increases exponentially on Huell. No, I haven’t yet been hit or crashed the bike. I do see that even though I get to move all around traffic, the chance of being hit or hitting someone else is significant. Increased speed and direction change results in more risk and less protection (especially without a car frame). There isn’t even a sense of camaraderie with other cyclists. It is a competition for narrow openings and the fastest way through the crowd. The same could be said about traveling alone spiritually. There is an increased danger if we lack community. There is an increasingly popular thought today that church is outdated, slow to move, and largely ineffective at causing transformation. I would say that it is always healthy to take an objective look at the church to see if it reflects the heart of Christ. I can best do that in the context of community. So my sermon from Huell is this: There is room to move faster, but what do we lose in exchange? Maybe I need a side car.