Gangs and Bullies (RV)

Elijah went a day’s journey . . . 

 - From 1 Kings 19

Heroes are always solitary people. They're loners. 

You may have a vision, an idea . . . and you share that idea with other people. And chances are, they will not be very encouraging. 

I've had decades now, of adulthood, with a few clear visions of what I am to do. It all has to do with solving our most sticky problems: health care, education, housing. And I have a distinctly practical solution to these problems. But I don't recall ever hearing someone encourage me. They may sit quietly and listen to me share the details. The silence may indicate that they like the idea . . . but it is a new idea, a new paradigm, and they are not sure they understand it. Perhaps they are fearful that support may require them to become vocal in their support. 

If it's such a great idea, why aren't people already doing it? They want to see it being successfully implemented somewhere. They want to see a crowd around it.

But perhaps the other person hears my idea, and shoots it down instantly. The person may or may not be an expert. But it doesn't take an expert to say: "Who do you think you are?" or "Why don't you be more practical?" 

I have often thought that a day of planning can be wasted, and set back a week, through one discouraging word. This is what makes the "Home on the Range" so appealing.

We are afraid of crowds. And we're intimidated by bullies. 

Elijah faced both, and at this point of his ministry, he finds himself wandering about in the wilderness . . . alone. Basically, he likes it this way. He is so tired of setbacks and disappointments that he has concluded (in measured tones, I believe) "Well that's it. If this what it's going to be like, then just let me end my life and get on to the next phase." 

But an angel of the Lord begins ministering to him.

Ahhhh . . . . this one person that shows up in support. The angel doesn't chastise, doesn't critique, doesn't even encourage, at least not in the conventional way ("Go get 'em! You can do this!").

Rather, the angel says "Here - - - get up and eat, you have a long journey."

And that's all it takes. 

We fear crowds of people; they can become angry gangs. But we also resist powerful men; they can become tyrannical bullies. Both are a problem for us. They inhibit our forward movement. And they successfully narrow our numbers down, until we are but one.

But someone comes along and says . . . "Here's something to eat."