elephant and mouse...a parable

"Let me tell you a story about missions," an African Christian friend said to me.

"Elephant and Mouse were best friends. One day, Elephant said, 'Mouse, let's have a party!' Animals gathered from far and near.

They ate. They drank. They sang. And they danced. And nobody celebrated more and danced harder than Elephant.

After the party was over, Elephant exclaimed, 'Mouse, did you ever go to a better party? What a blast!' But Mouse did not answer.

'Mouse, where are you?' Elephant called. He looked around for his friend and then shrank back in horror.

There at the elephant's feet lay Mouse. His little body was ground into the dirt. He had been smashed by the big feet of his exuberant friend, Elephant.

Sometimes, that is what it is like to do missions with people in positions of power, high status, or authority.," the African storyteller commented. "It's like dancing with an elephant."

This parable was given to me in 2007 in a CCDA "Urban-Suburban Partnership" class taught by Alvin Bibbs who works at Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago. I have reflected on it often, especially when Orchard Hill Church partners with Harvest and the Walnut Neighborhood for events like the recent "Christmas in Walnut."

One thing I love about the parable is that it does not condemn the elephant for BEING an elephant. Elephants are marvelous animals. The parable does, however, speak of the great need for the elephant to exercise caution...to pay attention...to be aware of her size and power and to serve and celebrate in humility and care with her friends.

Orchard Hill Church is an elephant. And, like I said above, there is nothing wrong with BEING an elephant. In fact, I celebrate the generosity, the joy, the love of this elephant. As we seek to come together and partner with others, though, in Christ's work of reconciliation and restoring neighborhoods, we will have to exercise caution...to pay attention...to be aware of our size and power and to serve and celebrate in humility and care with our friends.