When our children were still young, in elementary school, our family visited a train museum in Baltimore, Maryland. The behemoth locomotives seemed so much larger up close than when others passed by at railroad crossings. The sound effects, anecdotes of railroading, and inventory of paraphernalia displayed were all interesting, but dwarfed by the massive engines.
The strength of railroad locomotives is awe-inspiring. Modern engines generate up to six thousand horsepower, the required power for staggering payloads. During our tenure as pastor in Lansing Michigan we often sat at a crossing near our home when locomotives pulled 1000's of newly assembled Oldsmobiles from the factories to their point of sale. Cars were stacked three high and I always lost count when trying to number how many passed by.
Preachers make a big point of pointing to the power of God, the promise of the Spirit, the purposes of God being fulfilled in the power of the Spirit. I have, and have enjoyed listening to others. To apply a metaphor, we speak about the locomotive but seldom recognize the need for rails on which the engine must run. Locomotives are not designed to sit idly making noise and puffing steam or smoke! They are designed to pull, to move product and people from one place to another. In my opinion, sermons and lessons must include a rail system, a plan of action that helps the listener to move from the present into the future on a clearly designed and prepared path. After the inspiration of the moment and the sense of the Spirit, one must know what is next. Rails must be laid before progress is made.
Rail laying is tedious, hard work. Low places must be raised. High places must be made lower. Tons of material are required every few feet, stone, timbers, spikes. The process is labor intensive. The places of preparation are mostly lonely, places between stations and civilization, teeming with adversity and difficulties.
The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad was commemorated by driving a gold spike. The spike had been manufactured earlier in 1869 and the sides were engraved with the names of the railroad officers and directors. The ceremony was originally to be held on May 8, the date actually engraved on the spike, but it was postponed two days because of bad weather and a labor dispute. Ah, the metaphor goes on! We are affected by circumstances beyond us. We could get more done if everyone would cooperate and not dispute minutiae, things which really do not matter in the big picture.
When laying rails, millions of spikes must be driven. Making disciples who follow Jesus in the Power of the Spirit is similar. Hundreds of appointments made, cancelled and kept; gallons of poured coffee, tea, and soda; and pondering the unanswerable, sharing assurance that there is One who is infallible, omnipotent and compassionate can be tedious. Those who make disciples share Word and Spirit with others – for a long, long time. Progress is slow as resistant mountains and sluggish valleys are traversed. The wonderful sounds of Sunday’s worship and Word are often dissonant with the realities of daily difficulties. “How can I love God when I have a boss that is so demeaning and unappreciative?” It takes time to cross from one high point of faith to another when children are hospitalized, a parent dies, or a teen rebels. Locomotives of Spirit Power run on rails. Rails are made of caring, unselfish, well-informed investments of Word and Spirit exchanged between fellow disciples.
To extend the figure of speech a few inches more, when the rails are laid and the engine is fueled, the ride is great! We who are Jesus’ disciples enjoy life with others with whom we have learned The Way. Life, progressing down the rails, is beautiful and satisfying. The long hours of parched thirsty throats, blistered hands, sunburned skin, and weariness all are forgotten.
P.S. Pat and I can attest to the inconvenience caused by long, lumbering trains. The photographer hired for our wedding missed the whole ceremony, forty-five years ago tomorrow, because he sat at a railroad crossing waiting, waiting, waiting! We never did get the photos we expected. But, we have chests full of indelibly recorded memories!
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