Together we're better!

Many years ago, toward the beginning of this developing elephant collection, I received a gift – from my mother, I think – but memory is fuzzy.  I truly was puzzled when I received these elephants. My first impression, looking down at them in the open box was that I had received a bunch of wooden rats!

I didn’t realize they were elephants until I looked at them from another angle.  But still I was perplexed because it seemed to be they were meant to perform some kind of service or task.  I’m not sure if my mother was actually present when I opened the gift, or if I lived in ignorance until my curiosity trumped my pride.  But my memory seems to prefer the latter. So I asked and learned they were napkin rings!  Oh, okay.  I could see that after removing them from the rod around which their trunks were wrapped. Over the years, I’ve used them occasionally as napkin rings; they make good conversation pieces. Mostly they just sit in my hutch cabinet with many of the rest of the collection.

Real live elephants are much more useful and are like humans in interesting and significant ways: their intelligence compares to dolphins and chimpanzees and they have been known to surpass human researchers in solving certain problems. Like humans, they form relationships and grieve the loss of loved ones.  They are highly social animals and, in research, have demonstrated they understand the logic behind teamwork.  I have to say that some humans I know have yet to demonstrate that understanding! 

Anyway, while we know that elephants are very strong animals and can lift heavy loads alone, these “napkin ring” elephants lifting a load together remind me of the value of teamwork. There are a few things we can do alone, but most of the time our tasks are those we can only accomplish well in cooperation with others. I experienced this in my job as a preschool special education  teacher.  Over the years, I was blessed to work as a part of a team with paraprofessionals and therapists from other disciplines. Together, we engaged in the difficult work of teaching (and keeping up with!) young children; many had significant developmental or behavioral issues.    That was not a job to do alone.

I’ve also known the value of teamwork in various church activities, most notably the Vacation Bible School program during the summer.  For years, we’ve cooperated with another church, and adults and teens together are engaged in all kinds of volunteerism: cooking, creating decorations, teaching crafts, music, recreation, and Bible lessons, or providing snacks.  No one person could ever do that job alone. 

Teamwork is important in most every arena of life, but as a Christian, I can view teamwork from a unique perspective.  Paul says it quite well in Romans 12:5 – 6 “... so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.”

Life is a pretty heavy load to lift alone. But God, in His infinite wisdom has placed us on this earth with others who can share the burdens.   He has designed us with different gifts that only together might we fully be His body! 

A pretty significant lesson I’ve learned from these little napkin rings!