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I love grilling. I love smoking BBQ. In fact, I love doing anything that involves searing meat on an open flame! That smell and the crackling sound – mixed with the taste of an ice-cold refreshing IBC Root Beer – compels me to break out my manly utensils of culinary creation on a weekly basis.
But while grilling the other day, I had a revelation about our fellowship as Christians.
It was my dad who taught me how to grill. The old man had a religious set of ordered steps when it came to preparing the grill. He would painstakingly stack the charcoal into the shape of a pyramid in the middle of the grill. Then he would give the coals a generous dousing of lighter fluid. He’d wait a few moments, soak them again, and then strike the match.
Fire!
We’d stand there, entranced, as the coals burned in a bright orange flame that reached…six or seven feet! I told ya, dad really liked the lighter fluid!
At first, the coals remained black, but as they continued to burn, they would eventually take on a white appearance. Dad said that’s when the coals were finally ready to begin cooking with. We would toss on some steaks, and sit back and toast each other with IBC Root Beers, as we waited for the meat to finish cooking.
But this weekend, as I was doing the exact same thing my dad taught me to do years ago, I learned a spiritual lesson. I had stacked the coals, doused them in lighter fluid, doused them again, and lit the flame. I was waiting for the coals to get white when my pyramid shifted a little bit due to the heat in the coals.
One of the flaming briquettes fell off the top of the pyramid and came to a rest several inches from the rest of the coals. It burned brightly for a couple minutes, but then, its flame went out. In fact, it was completely extinguished.
Then it struck me! That’s how our fellowship is within the church. When we allow ourselves to get separated from one another, we have the tendency to lose our fire for God. You see, the Christian life is not one that’s supposed to be lived in isolation. Time and time again, we’re told in the New Testament to “love one another” (1 John 3:11), or “serve one another” (Galatians 5:13), or “forgive each other” (Colossians 3:13), etc.
In fact, I’d say it this strongly: the fellowship that we experience in Christ is not a perk; it’s a foundational necessity! We need to do life together.
When I realized this, I was overcome with the manly desire to experiment. So, I carefully slid my grill around a bit, reached in with my trusty set of tongs, grabbed the isolated briquette, and tossed it back in the midst of the flaming coals next to it.
Wanna guess what happened next?
Yep, within a moment or two, that previously estranged lump of charcoal had regained its flame and was on fire again.
That’s also a source of encouragement to me. I realized in that moment that when we let ourselves get separated from those that love us, we can be strengthened again by rejoining the godly relationships available to us.
I’d say that’s “rare” and “well done” all at the same time.
Resource’s Origin:
Back porch with Dad
Topics Illustrated Include:
Church
Cooking
Encouragement
Father
Fellowship
Food
Friends
Life
Love
Men
Relationship
Unity
(Resource cataloged by David R Smith)
