Some reflections on a group training simulation I participated in last week.
The article is destined for our local paper.
I recently had the privilege of participating in a training event for disaster management preparedness. The training event involved setting up a Relief Centre to give various agencies an opportunity to test and refine their systems to proved support to the public in the event of a disaster. To facilitate this we engaged in role-playing.
Now I tend to think that there are two types of people in the world: those who enjoy role-playing and those who are normal. But, personal discomfort aside, simulating various scenarios provided greater experience and insight than would have been possible through a lecture.
Seeing the centre established, being able to observe its various functions taking place, enabled me to see and experience what others would be doing and how my possible role would complement theirs. I was more able to know what I should be doing and what I didn’t need to do because others would carry out those roles.
It was an encouraging experience to see groups of people from different disciplines come together and, in a very brief period of time, settle into an operating pattern where people with very urgent needs were provided a secure environment and were having those needs addressed. Knowing what the others were doing freed us to focus on those areas for which we were responsible, without trying to perform responsibilities outside of our appointed roles.
Anyone who has worked on a well-functioning team knows how energising this experience can be. Knowing that there are others working alongside you whose skills and roles complement yours reduces stress and enables you to focus on what you do well.
One of the ways that the church is described in the Bible is as a “body”. This description is used to point out that everyone who is part of the church is equal with anybody else, while recognising that due to the great variety of our personal strengths and skill our functions and activities will vary.
The Bible points out the folly of thinking that equality rests on everyone doing the same thing by observing that a healthy body needs eyes, ears, hands, feet, and many other organs and elements. Those of us with minor or major ailments know how important each part of our body is, usually by how incapacitated we are when any of those parts are ailing.
It is in this gathered, unified body of people that the Bible says the Lord Jesus is best reflected as being present on earth. Most Christians know that it is as part of a group of other Christians that they best reflect the good news about God’s love, and are most effectively able to grow and share that love with others.
Similarly, the best way to experience what Christianity means is to spend time with a group of Christians. Somewhere in that mix of peoples is someone who can relate to your life and experience and whose experience of God may help you to know about Jesus in way you haven’t been able to before.
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