NORMAN — I recently traveled to Tanzania to lead in a pastors conference with 250 national pastors.
A conversation that stands out was with a Masai pastor who lived near Mt. Kilamanjaro. Timothe shared that lions often kill their livestock and that the men of his village must then hunt and kill them. He said the hunt is “easy” because “after lions eat your livestock, they sleep for a long time.”
A few days later we toured Ngorongoro Crater. We saw wildebeests, cape buffalo, hippos, elephants, hyenas and two specks that our guide promised were rhinoceroses.
The highlight was seeing four lions — one stretched out comfortably next to the road enjoying a morning nap. In fact all the lions we saw were asleep and at peace with the world. It dawned on me that none of the animals were too concerned about the sleeping lions. The entire crater seemed at peace.
But, when the lions get hungry — everything changes in the crater. When the lions get hungry, entire herds stop to face and watch them. When the lions get hungry, the sick and weak are in mortal danger. When the lions get hungry, mothers are on the alert for their young. When the lions get hungry, peace is replaced with fear. When the lions get hungry, death is not far behind.
Do you ever feel like the lions are on the prowl in your life? Life seems to be going well. There is peace and health in your family, work is satisfying, and the neighbors are keeping their grass mowed. Life couldn’t be better. And then, you wake up one day and the “lions are hungry.” Life becomes tense, filled with fear and anxiety. Maybe it’s a bad report from the doctor, or a tragic accident or word from your boss that your services are no longer needed. Joy and contentment are replaced with doubt and fear.
I suspect that we have all found ourselves in such a place. The scripture tells us that we have an enemy that “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).” Peter’s instruction to us is to be on the alert and practice self-control. Interesting that self-control is one of the keys to avoid becoming lunch for the lions. Self-control manifests itself in the life of the Christ-follower through obedience and faithfulness. Self-control characterizes those who have learned how to survive the prowling lions.
And such is life in the crater. The lions sleep, eat, and control life within. Those animals that maintain self-control, live within the safety of the herd, and avoid the instinctive reaction to run away or escape the lion on their own are best able to survive the hungry lion and enjoy the peaceful times in which the lion sleeps.
Have you found your place of life and sanctuary within the “herd?” If not, may God lead you to spiritual community in His “herd,” the church. And may you find his grace, strength and protection in that place.
