Showin' the Armadillo

posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Question: Why did the chicken cross the road?
Answer: To show the armadillo it could be done.

A little over a year and a half ago, we had a crisis at church. One of our associate pastors fell into a moral error. There was a public confession, apology and rebuke. There was much prayer for restoration. Then, there was nothing more said publicly; there were no rumors flying around.

It was grievous; if it happened to these particular folks, believe me, it could happen to anybody. I saw how vulnerable we as humans are to such things...and I distinctly recall hearing the Spirit warn me "If you judge others, you will open the door to that attack in your own life." These folks were/are friends of mine; I joined my heart to pray for them as well.

But an amazing thing happened. Both the (now former) associate pastor and his wife, and the other person involved and her husband continued to attend church...in the beginning, different services. There was counseling, there was prayer.

There was warfare. But the right kind.

And there was true repentance and reconciliation. Not overnight...but it happened.

This past Sunday, our pastor spoke on restoration...the kind of restoration God does when we allow Him to humble us and remake what has been broken. For the first time in a year and a half, he mentioned the situation that arose two years ago.

And, in the face of overwhelming odds, we now have two marriages that have been restored. It was time to tell the congregation that the process has been completed and the folks involved were released to lay ministry in the body once again.

A chicken is not a very likely bird to set an example, is it? But...if the chicken is willing to go through the dry, hard place, led by the Master, and keeps moving, it will, eventually, get to the other side.

It can be done.

I don't know if our pastoral leadership, or any of the folks involved will ever wander by here and read this. But, just in case they do...from the bottom of my heart, thank you for sticking to God through this and showing any who look that it can be done.