The Llama is a camelid (same family as the camel) that was raised mainly in the Andes of South America. They, like the camel, can go for days without drinking water and the eat almost anything. They can carry 25-30% of their body weight for miles, up and down steep hills.
But here is the part that got us thinking: They have the weirdest feet! They have two big toes with large thick toenails. Their feet are soft and not hooved and they walk on rocky terrain without a thought. As we walked a narrow and often rocky trail at high elevation, the llamas travelled effortlessly and seemed not to be concerned with the occasional dangerous slope. They would stop and eat the dried grass as if they were walking on flat ground. Their weird feet were made for this and they llamas were comfortable there. But, when we got down near the trailhead, the path leveled out and there was little slope. This part of the trail was in the dark timber and since we had had some recent thunderstorms the path was muddy and a bit slippery. No big deal. But when the llamas feet hit the mud they immediately became uneasy. They slipped and slid and looked like they were afraid of falling over. WHAT? They weren't afraid of falling nine hundred feet on a narrow rocky trail but are afraid of tipping over on level ground. The thing is that their feet were made for one terrain and not the other. Perfect. We brought them because we were going to hike in the mountains and for the most part, not in the mud.
So, what are your feet made for? I mean this more globally actually. What are you made for? We are the body of Christ and we are all made differently, with different gifts. Paul tells us in Ephesians Chapter four that,
"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
Maybe you are an out front person who shares the Gospel with whoever will listen. Maybe you have the gift of compassion and are more comfortable sharing a quiet hug. Maybe you are a hands on person who would rather fix a neighbor's roof than talk about your "feelings". The point is that God made the llama's feet different than he did a cat's, a dog's, or your feet. But each can do something different.
Here is my challenge for you today. Reflect on your feet. No, not your literal feet but your gifts. How has God built you? What is your role in the Body of Christ? What is your role in the family, in your workplace, in your church? Spend some time in prayer and asked God to help you discern your place in his family here during your time on earth. If your work was done, he'd have called you home!!
Peace,
David
I'm a first time commenter and I'd like to say, though I am not a Christian (or affiliated with any other religion), I really enjoy reading some of your blogs.
ReplyDeleteBut I have to nitpick on this one, the feet of a llama, and all other animals, are they way they are because they adapted to the terrain they are native to. The llamas being native to the dry southern region of the Andes never adapted to traverse such slippery terrain. I choose the word 'adapted' because their feet were not designed, they changed over time to suit their environment. They evolved. As with the feet of cats, dogs, and people.
I know that wasn't the central point of your sermon, I just felt like getting that point out there. As with our individual gifts, you're right. We must use what abilities we have, no matter where they came from, to better this world in which we live. To strive to be the best we can be for our families, our communities, and ourselves. So that together we can build a better world for everyone of every race, colour, and creed.
Peace,
Anonymous Atheist
Thanks so much for the comment. Your point is well taken and I want to share my thoughts. Just for the record, I have my undergrad degree in biology and chemistry and am well educated in Darwinian evolution. I have addressed this in more depth in previous posts but will touch again on it here. I would argue that there are two types of "evolution" that need to be defined. The first is macroevolution which evolutionists claim produced profound changes which, over billions of years, changed the first amino acid (formed in the primordial soup of the cooling earth) into men that can fly to the the moon. The second is microevolution which allows for small changes that are adaptive in nature. I agree with the second and think the first is absurd. For instance: Look at the rattlesnake. It has a very complex system for producing a very potent venom. The venom is delivered through a well designed hollow fang that can retract. The hollow fang is meaningless without venom and the venom is useless without a hollow fang (and the plumbing) to deliver it. This system can't evolve over time. It either is or it isn't. On the other hand there are certainly changes, within species, that allow for adaptation to the changing environment. Like the changing of a moths colors to adapt to changes in the color of its surroundings or an increase in body hair to adapt to cooling climate. My example is likely a combination of God's initial design and then micro genetic changes to adapt to changes in habitat. So, I think you are partially correct :)
ReplyDeleteBut as you pointed out, this was merely a segue into my main point. Your final statement is true and noble but I would add that sin exists which keeps the world in disarray and all of our intelligence and poetry hasn't made the world one ounce better. That is the whole reason Christ came... because we needed God to intervene. Again, Thanks for sharing your thoughts with openness and transparency. God bless you (even if you aren't sure he is there)