Chapter 5: Are You a Duck, a Rabbit, or a Squirrel?

Outreach

Outreach is much more than merely seeing people make a decision to come to Christ. Anything we do that makes Christ more attractive to people is outreach. God's plan for taking His message to the world involves people. He desires for us to use our unique gifts and stages of life to help move people closer to Him.

You have your own set of abilities, talents, and interests where you will naturally excel. If you feel forced to fill a mold that does not fit you, you can become frustrated, discouraged, and even guilty. Lack of fulfillment, mediocrity, or complete defeat can result.

Many times we do not reach out because we compare ourselves to others (usually someone very different from ourselves). We may think "I could never do what she does!" Our problem is not a lack of abilities, but too narrow a definition of outreach.

Flying Rabbits, Swimming Eagles

Chuck Swindoll, noted pastor and author, shared his perspective along with the following story from the Springfield, Oregon, Public Schools Newsletter:

Once upon a time, the animals decided they should do something meaningful to meet the problems of the new world. So they organized a school.

They adopted an activity curriculum of running, climbing, swimming and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals took all the subjects.

The duck was excellent at swimming; in fact, better than his instructor. But he made only passing grades in flying, and was very poor at running. Since he was slow in running, he had to drop swimming and stay after school to practice running. This caused his web feet to be badly worn, so that he was only average in swimming. But average was quite acceptable so nobody worried about that--except the duck.

The rabbit started at the top of his class in running, but developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles because of so much make-up work in swimming.

The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but he encountered constant frustration in flying class because his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the treetop down. He developed "charlie horses" from overexertion, and so only got a C in climbing and a D in running.

The eagle was a problem child and was severely disciplined for being a non-conformist. In climbing he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but insisted on using his way to get there . . . .

A duck is a duck--and only a duck. It is built to swim, not to run or fly and certainly not to climb. A squirrel is a squirrel--and only that. To move it out of its forte, climbing, and then expect it to swim or fly will drive a squirrel nuts. Eagles are beautiful creatures in the air but not in a foot race. The rabbit will win every time unless, of course, the eagle gets hungry.

What is true of creatures in the forest is true of Christians in the family; both the family of believers and the family under your roof. God has not made us all the same. He never intended to. It was He who planned and designed the differences, unique capabilities, and variations . . . .

If God made you a duck saint--you're a duck, friend. Swim like mad, but don't get bent out of shape because you wobble when you run or flap instead of fly. Furthermore, if you're an eagle saint, stop expecting squirrel saints to soar, or rabbit saints to build the same kind of nests you do. . . .

So relax. Enjoy your spiritual species. Cultivate your own capabilities. Your own style. Appreciate the members of your family or your fellowship for who they are, even though their outlook or style may be miles different from yours. Rabbits don't fly. Eagles don't swim. Ducks look funny trying to climb. Squirrels don't have feathers.

Stop comparing. There's plenty of room in the forest.{1}

Each of us needs to be aware of the unique set of capabilities we have. Interests and talents can change at various stages of a woman's life, and the ages and needs of her children and the needs of her husband affect her availability.

Outreach is simply finding a way to put feet to your faith in a way that will work for you.

Reaching Out . . .

To Students:

• Take them to church with you.
• Help teach the college Sunday School class.
• Consider having your husband invite his students to your home for a meal, dessert, brunch, or other activity. At such a gathering it would be appropriate for your husband to share a brief Christian testimony.
• Get to know an international student (see the following section "The World At Your Door").
• Consider setting aside some time to spend with married students and make yourselves available and vulnerable to discuss with them issues related to the family. Encourage them to attend Campus Crusade's FamilyLife Conference.{2}
• If the professors on your campus are using the How to Get Better Grades and Have More Fun{3} book and seminar as an outreach to students, have a follow-up Bible study with women students who express an interest.

To Faculty Wives:

• Invite other faculty wives to community or church Bible studies, Christian Women's Club, or other special outreach events.
• Form children's playgroups with other faculty wives.
• Host an informal tea to meet new wives in your husband's department. This will allow you to begin to develop relationships with other wives.
• If your campus or city has an annual prayer breakfast, invite faculty wives to join you.
• A more mature faculty wife can be an excellent resource for the younger faculty wife in the university setting (see Mentoring).
• Attend Christian Leadership Ministries' conferences to spend time with other wives of faculty members. Christian Leadership encourages faculty and staff to bring their spouses. To check on the dates of area and regional conferences and the National Faculty Leadership Conference, contact a CLM representative or the national office (see title page for address and telephone number).

To Faculty and Staff:

• During Secretary's Week plan a special luncheon for them in your home or take them to a restaurant. Often professors share one secretary, so invite the other department wives to join in the planning as well as the luncheon.
• Have secretaries fill out a questionnaire about their likes and dislikes, colors in the home, etc. Then personalize gift baskets for them.
• Welcome new faculty and staff at a reception or give each one a welcome basket. Include a list of Christian doctors, dentists, lawyers, plumbers, baby-sitters, etc. along with baked goods. If you are at a large university, consider focusing your welcoming activities on your husband's department.
• Host a Friday Night at the Movies. Some faculty couples enjoy inviting faculty and staff over to watch videos and then discuss them. Choose timely films which will lead to lively discussion of spiritual issues (see Friday Night at the Movies).
• Be involved in a Dessert/Discussion Series or an Open Forum. These are outreach tools designed to bring together Christians and non-Christians in a non-threatening environment (see The Dessert/Discussion Series and The Open Forum).
• For additional ideas see the "Opening Your Home" and "Who, Us?" sections in this manual.

Endnotes

{1}Chuck Swindoll, Standing Out, Multnomah Press, 1983, pp. 51-53. Used with permission.

{2}For more information regarding these conferences, contact FamilyLife, P.O. Box 23840, Little Rock, AR 72221-3840. Telephone: 1-800-358-6329.

{3}Steve Douglass, How to Get Better Grades And Have More Fun, Success Factors, Integrated Resources, 1985. Telephone: 1-800-729-4351.

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