Sam Matteson
Physics, University of North Texas
[Nov. 2, 2009] —
Trundling along a Rocky Mountain jeep trail with my brother-in-law Bob this summer, we came upon a smoldering fire in an abandoned camp. The smoke curled upward through the aspen and pine from the glowing but deserted coals.
Sensing the danger of wildfire that surrounds an unattended spark in the forest, Bob stopped, retrieved his shovel from the bed of the truck, and methodically removed the largest embers from the banked fire. Isolated on the periphery of the fire pit, the coals quickly flickered out and cooled. A fire that would have taken 50 or more gallons of water to quench was extinguished in a few minutes, merely by isolating its members.
I was struck by how much like that camp fire we are-you and I. Habitually, I meditate on and act upon that which I am inspired to think about, most often by the people with whom I share, either in person or via e-mail and print. What I read, discuss or see working itself out is what I reflect on and find myself doing. Thus, realizing this about myself and others, I have intentionally sought out brothers and sisters in the academy with whom I can fellowship and to whom I can be accountable.
Our Kingdom Allegiance
What is more, I have made it a practice to introduce fellow Christ-followers on campus to each other with the words, “he is a brother,” or “she is my sister in the Lord,” thus hoping to bank the coals of our shared kingdom allegiance.
In my pilgrimage through the academic life, I have found the work of Faculty Commons to be immensely helpful in “fan[ning] into flame the gift of God” [2 Timothy 1:6] that we have been given. One important way that I have felt connected to fellow pilgrims across the country has been the weekly My Ministry Minute (aka MMM) communiqués such as the one you are reading at this moment.
I have been blessed both by sharing my experiences (and being affirmed by the responses) and by hearing from others where God has led them in their unique journey. I encourage you to recount a story from your own experience and share it with us, whether it be a tale of triumph or of discouragement, or even an insight that God has given you from your wandering in the wilderness that can serve as a cautionary tale to your spiritual sibs.
By making the effort to crystallize the truth of our experience into a few hundred words we find that we understand it better and, what is more, other “kingdom agents” will benefit from the retelling.
So, please, will you not consider this investment in us? If you will do it, then the glow of the Holy Spirit working in your life and shining on your path can put new fire in us and in our way. I imagine I hear Jesus saying, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like a camp fire. . . .”