The Prime Directive Fail

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As I was growing up, I was a huge Star Trek fan.  Kirk, Spock and Bones the trinity of the Enterprise seemed to have no compunctions about abandoning ship, leaving it in the hands of Chief Engineer, Scotty who always seemed to run into a catastrophe while they were away.

Magically appearing on a planet presumably to explore and observe, this trio invariably changed the course of events, even though they were under strict orders from Star Fleet not to interfere in the internal development of alien populations.   This order was called The Prime Directive.

It was certainly a difficult and challenging job for a compassionate and caring star ship captain, and in my book, Kirk failed miserably.

I can't help but compare Kirk and his disciples to Jesus and his.

As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town.  When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!"  The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. - Luke 7:12-15

I guess if there was anything worth failing at, this was it.  How could you walk among the needy and destitute and not help?

A good friend, Lynn, was telling me about her trips to Tanzania and the village there that she sponsors.  Every two years or so, she an a group of other sponsors gather up as many school supplies, uniforms and other necessities packed into backpacks, and they make the long trek to visit their distant friends.  Lynn showed me pictures of the smiling kids enjoying an image of themselves in a Polaroid print.  It was the first time they saw what they looked like.  So, the group gave them mirrors, causing them to roar with laughter and joy.

Is this interfering in their lives?

You bet!  Some might say that is wrong, that aboriginal peoples should be left to develop on their own, but that would be wrong, wouldn't it?

The way I see it, Jesus responded to people in two ways.  Some were healed or changed because they had faith.  He clearly gave them credit for the change in their lives.  By turning to God, through him, they were healed.

Others, though, like the widow who lost her only son, found themselves in his presence, and a recipient of God's grace, without even having to ask for it.

So, what does that mean for all of us in our personal ministry?

I don't believe we are all placed here on this violently unstable blue marble to go about our lives without touching and impacting each other.  That type of life would be no different than solitary confinement.  We are given gifts from God to use them, to share them, to offer them to others who have different gifts.

Perhaps the next time Lynn goes to Tanzania, as part of the Carpenter's Kids program, I will go with her, bringing what I can to help.  We don't have to travel to distant worlds to reach out to our brothers and sisters.  Sure, it is much more exotic and exciting to bea star ship captain on a mission, but Jesus showed us we could be effective where we are, and wherever we go.

His prime directive was a little different, and perhaps a lot more difficult.

Love one another.