My First Rodeo

Rikki Permenter, MAMFC, Th. M.

The one who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same manner that He walked.

1 John 2:6

I grew up in the fast-paced city where we bought our fresh veggies from the store rather than grabbing them out of the garden. Our canned veggies came in metal cans with labels rather than in hand canned jars. The slow country life I have found myself living is very different than how I grew up. God has a funny way of giving you just what you need. This week I learned the time tested art of canning. I spent the afternoon with someone who taught me how to can pickles. We made sweet and spicy pickles.

We went through each step, one by one. She would tell me about it, show me how, and watch me do it. After I caught on she began to do other things around her kitchen. I did’t think she way paying close attention to what I was doing anymore but as soon as I skipped a step she noticed and let me know. At no point in my lesson did I get frustrated with her for guiding me or correcting me. She is a master canner and this was my first rodeo.

In reflecting on this new venture I began to think about discipleship and church discipline. I sought out someone to teach me something new. I found someone who had been doing it much longer than me and was very good at it. I allowed myself to learn from her and be corrected by her. In the Christian life we don’t always find someone further down the road from us to teach us new things. We also get very frustrated when people see us doing something incorrectly or skipping a step and they reach out to correct us. Why is this the case? If you aren't learning from someone and having someone learn from you then you are missing one of the most important aspects of Christianity.

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.