Imagine

Imagine a race where no one runs, a farm where no one plants, an army where all the soldiers stay home. Imagine the athlete who insists on a medal even though he didn't run, the farmer who expects a harvest even he has no crops, or the soldier who says his commanding officer expects too much. Imagine a church where none of these things are true.

An old gate on the Crișul river, at night, Oradea, Romania.

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1 Cor 9.24-27

Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things. I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.

Gal 6.9

Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.

2 Timothy 2.3-5

No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer. And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules. It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops.

2 Timothy 4.7-8

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Imagine an army where anyone can be a soldier simply by saying they are. There is no basic training, no marching, no marksmanship, no obstacle course. You can stay home with your family and work your regular job. It’s expected to come in a couple hours a week, but if you miss a couple weeks now and then there’s no problem. Anyone who comes in more than one day a week is given public acknowledgement, and someone who spends an entire month is invited up front to explain what it’s like.

Most of the officers have no battlefield experience, but they are highly educated with graduate degrees in languages, history, archeology, philosophy, and sociology.

There are no enemies and no battles. Whoever enlists the most people wins.

Imagine a college football team where anyone who goes to that college is automatically on the team. There are no tryouts, no weightlifting, no running, no tackling. None of the coaches have ever played football but they’ve watched a lot of games. Some have written books, analyzing tactics and strategy.

There are no games. Every week there is a pep rally to amp up the student body. At the end of the school year everyone gets a trophy.

Imagine a job where there are no education or experience requirements and no expectations to ever do any work. You can give yourself whatever job title you like but no one is required to show up. Everyone gets the same pay whether they come to work or not.

Job satisfaction is a lingering problem. A lot of people think they should be getting more from their work, so consultants are hired to explain how people can be happier and more fulfilled in their work by doing exercises from home.

Imagine a farm where no one milks the cows or works the fields. Some people take a half hour in the morning to meditate on farming. Some stay in the house and read and some go out to the porch with a cool drink, gaze out over the landscape and talk about how great farming is, but most go into the city and spend the day there. The family gathers at dinnertime to talk about how their day is going. Everyone tries to be joyful and encouraging.

No one has actually ever run a farm before, but some of them have read a lot about it. A few are considering going to college to learn how to start their own farms.

Another farm. The father works long days in the field and wants his sons and daughters to help, but most stay in the house. Two of them are in the 40’s and have never helped or had a job.

One son works with his father, plowing the fields and baling hay. They have a good time together, out in the sun, sweating, getting dirty. They don’t talk much; it's not necessary. But they have a good time. It’s hard work and it’s nice to walk home together down the dusty road at the end of the day. Not much conversation. Just a satisfying tiredness.

They walk in the front door and someone lying on the couch turns from the tv to greet them: Hey! How ya doing? Have a good day?

It was fine.

Really? Sounds like you had fun.

It was fine.

You know, I was watching this program where they were talking about building a strong family. Why don’t you stay home tomorrow and we’ll do something together?

Probably not. There’s a lot to do.

Oh, well... okay. Just thought it’d be fun to spend some time together.

Maybe later.

Sure. Hey, there are two psychologists on tv who are really great. You’ve absolutely got to read their book. It’s helped me a lot. Maybe you’d...

Maybe later. I’d like to get something to eat.

Wow, that sounds great! Let's all go out! They have unbelievable calamari shooters at the Loft.

No, I'd rather stay in. I'll just get something quick and relax for the evening.

Oh, okay. But I'd really like to do something together. I'm paying!

That's nice. We'll do it some other day.