THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

Those of you who liked the 1970s rock and heavy metal music might know of a band called Def Leppard, that has recently been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Personally, I wasn’t into this kind of music, so growing up, I didn’t know this group. But there is something about this group that’s amazing. You see, the drummer of this band, Rick Allen, lost his left arm in a car crash in 1984. However, instead of being asked to leave the band, he was asked to remain. So, he has remained in the band to this day; he plays the drum with one arm. To make up for the lost arm, he uses two legs!

Now I understood why during the induction ceremony, Rick Allen couldn’t hold his tears. He was deeply moved by the love shown by his bandmates. They didn’t discard him like a no-good item; instead they kept him—and still do—as a precious member of the body. They could have replaced him with another drummer who would certainly enrich the music even more (especially when playing rock), but they let go of that opportunity to sound better. Instead they opted for something glorious: the opportunity to be better! These rockers had their priority straight and right on the button.

It is so easy to discard others in the name of quality—giving God the best quality. Often, we miss the point that to God the best quality He desires is not the sound but the soul. So, let’s keep those with only “one arm.” It’s OK if the sound is not too great because, what’s important is that they are still a part of the group. Seeing them happy and appreciated is a reward in and of itself.

God wants us to be better, but the least He expects us to be better in is our ability. He expects us to be better most in our love. You see, the more we love, the better we sound to His ears and hearts.

Pastor Paul