“…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…” (1 Peter 3:15, ESV)

During last year’s summer Olympics the American relay teams managed to disqualify themselves by dropping the baton during the transfer from one leg to the next.  These teams were supposed to be gold medal contenders and they did not even advance to the medal rounds (U.S. 4×100m teams both drop batons ).

I recently went to Turkey with a team of very talented friends.  Our primary objective was to serve people we know who live in Turkey…give them a break and some encouragement.  Since we are all followers of Jesus Christ, we also hoped to share the love of God, given through Jesus, with those we came into contact with.

I was on the children’s ministry team.  We were asked to play with kids for five to six hours a day and anticipated to have mostly English speaking children.  The “English” part didn’t happen.  As day one turned to days two and three, we found there was an increase in the number of children who did not speak English as their primary language.  So we used the universal language of play to engage the children.  My team members Mike, Judy and Dana all did a great job of using what they had available to engage children with whom none of us could adequately communicate.

One child “S” and I got along famously.  All I needed was a balloon and a game I had spent countless hours playing as a child.  S and I played for hours and I got to know his mother.  I was excited about the connection and really wanted our host to speak to the woman, perhaps to share the love of Christ in her language.  Our host didn’t see the opportunity at all.  I did everything I could to try to make the conversation happen, but not even a word was exchanged between them.

I was disappointed.  I had hoped for a chance for the good news to go out as a result of our labors and here I though we had opened a door for the local “expert” and “clank,” a dropped baton.

God, in His mercy, didn’t allow me to be overly critical or frustrated, though.  He simply gently and quietly warned me “you’re next.”  I shivered at the Spirit’s word to my heart and purposed to do my best not to be the second team to fail to complete the circuit.

Just like Jesus’ word to Peter was fulfilled, the Spirit’s word to me rang true.  A couple of my team members had made a connection with a multiligual Turk.  He was very friendly and the conversation flowed pretty well–in English!  My team members got the conversation as far as the male-female cultural barrier would allow and it was my turn to take up the baton.

“Clank”

No excuse, no “second chance.”  Just “clank.”   We were out of the race and it was my fault.  This image is now in my heart.  How many times do I fail to take up the baton of someone’s work for the sake of the gospel?  How ashamed I was and how much more now I feel the need to be ready, hand extended, to take up and run.