Ostriches

Today I went to Target to buy some birthday cards for the youth group kids. On a random sidetrip (like I tend to have every time I go to Target), I started out by wandering through the toy aisles. It’s just really nice to walk down these aisles and see remnants of my own childhood (Strawberry Shortcake, Cabbage Patch Kids, My Little Pony, Lincoln Logs…). At any rate, I happened to find a really strange little toy. It was this very tiny little ostrich keychain. It caught my eye because it was an ostrich – I mean, who makes ostrich toys? I picked it up and looked at it closer and noticed the catchphrase on the package “Don’t stick your head in the sand!” Well, at that point, I had to go ahead and buy it.

“Why on earth would you want a tiny ostrich toy, Erica?” you ask. Let’s explain. I think that this toy completely lines up with some of the ongoing struggles I have had with the body of Christ lately. Go ahead and wander down this list of explanations of how I see our Body burying our little ostrich heads:

• when it comes to the sins of our Christian family that we are called to hold accountable
• when it comes to the sin in our own lives that we can’t own up to
• when it comes to the problems in our own Body of Christ
• when it comes to the world and what it will take to reach it
• when it comes to those hurting and in need around us that we can’t find time/money for
• when it comes to our own callings
• when we know the right thing and refuse to do it because it’s just not “comfortable” or “convenient”

My list can probably go on, but you get the idea. I know I have been completely called on the carpet lately about some of the above, and it’s hard not to rail on those I come into contact with who are falling into the same pitfalls (whether purposely or accidentally). My challenge to you is simple: Don’t bury your head in the sand. Jesus never buried His head, doing everything uncomfortable and inconvenient with unabashed fervor. We are called to be like Christ. Let’s give up the ostrich game and live as we were meant to live.

~ by Erica Ares on February 21, 2008.