Deer in the Headlights

Ever wonder where the expression of deer in the headlights comes from? It happens on a dark highway where deer are know to pass along the road. Every now and then a car will happen upon a deer standing in the middle of a roadway. Since the deer isn't use to seeing headlights, they will stand in the middle of the road staring at it, wondering just what that is. They will remain that was as if frozen even if it means getting hit by a vehicle.

Yet that is exactly the very sitchiation we all find ourselves in. No, I did not mis-spell situation. A sitchiation is a situation that's gotten out of control. It's when you know you need to do something to get out of a jam, but you don't have the foggiest idea how to go about making a change. So you see the deer on the roadway we stuck in a sitchiation. If the deer could talk, it might be saying to himself, "I always forget what to do next when I see headlights."

In the Christian life we are prone to numerous headlight staredowns. We look at lists of 'requirements' for being a useful soldier in God's army and we are left paralyzed. But if we remember that Jesus' assignment is to do a small thing, we are liberated from our sitchiations to step out and make a difference. We need to take on the more productive role of servant warriors.

Below is a classic example of one way to become a servant warrior and make a difference in the world, one act of random kindness at a time.

The Escalator

I was returning from another business trip, heading to my car. A five-year-old boy stood at the top of the escalator. At first, I thought he was just playing, but as I got closer, I realized his Mom was half-way down the escalator. She thought he was right behind her and his little sister. When she turned around and saw her son there, she started pleading with him to get on the escalator. He just shook his head no.

So I said "Want some help?" He nodded his head yes, and took my hand. We held hands all the way down the escalator. He told me that he liked the moving sidewalks, but didn’t like escalators…they are pretty scary. There was a relieved Mom at the bottom. My kids are grown now, but I still remember those frantic days with multiple small kids, and was glad for the opportunity to provide a little relief.

Today's ARK tip: Hug your Mother. Phone Your Mother. Write to Your Mother. Love Your Mother.

Don't forget to share what ARK you completed today with all of us big or small, it all counts to God. Let us in on what you did, how it made you feel and how it impacted someone else.