Flying Bunnies in Worship. . . Have Mercy

 

I heard a story, and it is true.

A pastor and their congregation were having challenges in the realm of communication. The congregation felt that the pastor, in the act of preaching, had great affection for the proverbial bunny trail. The congregation, or at least some of the members, had expressed their concern to the pastor, through their representatives, asking the pastor to stay on point. While receiving this critique, the pastor either did not fully agree with the assessment, or was unaware of the exact meaning of the congregations commentary.

On a Sunday, following the critique, the pastor diverted from the focus of the sermon and was on a bunny trail. In the middle of this diversion, a member of the congregation, who had helped deliver the critique, stood up and said, "there you go again." "This is what we were talking about. You are on another bunny trail."

Being interrupted, the pastor could have done any number of things. They could have prayed and then sat down. They could have walked out of the pulpit and the church. They could have heard the critique anew, gathered themselves, and finished on-point. Instead, the pastor entered into a debate. The pastor countered the claim and would not surrender their point. 

Seeing and hearing an immovable spirit within the pastor to amend their ways, members of the congregation became resolute in their own thinking. Several talked and decided to bring toy stuffed rabbits to worship with them. When the pastor was, in their opinion, on a bunny trail, they would toss the toy rabbits into the air. Thus, for a season, there were flying bunnies in worship.

I have many thoughts on this story, but my first is simply this, "Lord, Have Mercy!"