Groove or rut?

There are obvious negative connotations to being “stuck in a rut,” but at the same time we say someone has “found their groove” when things are really going according to plan.  Interestingly, there really isn’t that much difference between a groove and a rut - both are a track in which one can find himself. 

During our many excursions to “town” in Malekula, more than once we’ve found ourselves in a truck that is stuck because it unintentionally drifted into the muddy ruts of countless previous vehicles.  At other times it seems as though things are just falling into place and we feel like we’re in much-sought-after groove.  I guess the only difference between a groove and a rut is desire - you long to be in one, but despise being in the other.  But could Satan trick us into thinking we’re humming along nicely, when in reality we’re missing out on all that could be happening were we to realize we’ve become complacent?

Having now spent several months in the village, I have become aware of how susceptible we are to getting stuck in a proverbial rut.  Daily living takes effort and time, and you could mindlessly monopolize both of these allotted resources with simple, necessary chores.  Furthermore, I find myself becoming content teaching classes on Sunday and Wednesday nights, leading youth group meetings every Friday afternoon, teaching the younger kids after our worship service each Sunday morning, and conducting a gospel meeting once a quarter.  Those are all good works, but I fear that there comes a point when this seemingly “grooveful” pattern transforms into a mere rut.

I realize that in said scenario, we are influencing 30-40 people each week with the truth, which is a blessing and well worth any effort we expend - there is no work greater than that of edifying Christians and teaching young people.  But I don’t want to become satisfied with what we’re doing to the point that I forget the bigger picture - all those lost souls that surround us.  At the risk of sounding corny, I want to dream big.  I want God to accomplish great things here in Malekula, rather than me holding things up with small thinking.  There are at least 250 people in our immediate vicinity, thousands in our region, and tens of thousands on the island.  How many “are very religious in all respects” or “have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.”  It breaks my heart to know that so many seemingly good people are traveling along in what they perceive to be their spiritual groove when in reality they are in a religious rut - one that will ultimately lead them to eternal “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  And how many are, perhaps, seeking the truth without someone to teach them?

We’ve gotta do something!  Our God is an awesome God, and it’s my prayer that He can utilize you and me to bring about His ultimate will - the salvation of mens’ souls (1 Timothy 2:4).  To assist in reaching this goal to dream big, I am going to start focusing more on spending time each week in solitude - hoping that through study, prayer and thought I can come up with creative ways to share the gospel more effectively in Malekula.  Would you being praying to that end as well?  And while you’re at it, it probably wouldn’t hurt to assess the spiritual track in which you currently find yourself in regard to the work of a Christian - groove or rut?

Let’s dream big!