Grab the Bloody Rudder

In The last few months, I have read and found wisdom in the teaching of Voddie Bauchman.  Not only Bauchman but many Christians see the value of family worship. Recently, I have discovered that family worship is the single most important duty as a husband, father, and follower of Christ. 

 To lead one’s family is number one on the headship job description.  The credit belongs to a colleague who had the courage to implement worship in his family first, while I ignored the calling to lead my family. Through his example, I could see and gain the courage to take responsibility for the family God blessed me with.

After reading Steven Covey’s book “7- habits,” I came away with the concept of prioritizing tasks and responsibilities by large rocks, medium rocks, and sand.

The idea is to fill the jar with as much substance as possible. The jar signifies a day. You would put your largest rocks in first, followed by medium, then lastly, the sand. The rocks are the more critical responsibility, and the sand is the least. If the jar is filled first with sand, then the large rocks will have nowhere to go.

Great concept, and for the last couple of years, my top tasks/ responsibilities, my largest rocks, have been to read scripture, read with Katie, have quality time with kids, personal growth, and prayer. After starting to lead my family actively, I realized that in the fifteen minutes a day that we spend worshipping together, all these major rocks are placed first in the jar. 

My argument is not for the time that it saves. my argument is for the value transfer that has occurred. It is much easier to give all your attention to one thing. In the words of one of my favorite characters, Ron Swanson, ” Don’t half-ass two things, whole ass one thing.”

The biggest hang-up for me regarding family worship is the singing. When placed in the context that the responsibility is mine to lead, then it became much easier to endure the tiniest bit of uncomfortable feeling, for the Lord’s sake and the health of my family, spiritually most mornings we start by singing the David Crowder,,, the song “Good, God almighty,” I will read a chapter of scripture, or we will go through a question in a catechism, then we will pray. 

I so desire to lead my family well. I must lead my family well. I must not sit idly by while the winds and waves blow my family in whichever direction they please. I must take hold of my courage, grab the rudder and steer.

The call to steer the ship is frightening. However, steering the vessel God has placed in my care is of utmost importance. I believe the fear was of a false truth. I believed that I must steer perfectly and reach the destination safely. I don’t believe that is what God has commanded us to do. All he wants us to do is grab the rudder. We will make mistakes, and we will cause damage and harm, but this is where he can show his strength and protection. He repairs the ship, mends it, and makes it new. If we don’t grab the rudder and attempt to point toward Christ, someone else will grab the rudder and point our families away from Christ. Summon the stones and take hold of the rudder.

We all start with the most vulnerable ships you can imagine. Each time we grab the rudder, we let Christ strengthen the ship. Because each time we are courageous, God is honored. Each time we make a mistake, crash, or break our ship, He strengthens it.  When we risk for God, He is honored. He makes us a new, bigger, and stronger ship. More able to handle the winds and waves of this world.

Take my place at the head and lead. Lead with all my might. Lead no matter what others feel. Have courage that I am not alone. That he has called me out. He has given me all I need. He has built me for this task. I am more than able to endure the journey only because He is there. Only because of God can I hope and have the courage to take hold of the rudder. I can do nothing apart from Him. He guides, he directs, he repairs, he strengthens. All I must do is grab the rudder, just grab the bloody rudder.