How Outdoor Leadership Creates an Environment for Developing Common Sense
One of the most common fruits of spending time in nature is a more developed level of common sense. As an outdoor Christian leader, I have been amazed at how much Jesus used outdoor adventure to amass in his disciples a more lively appreciation for common sense by pushing them out of their comfort zones. As the old adage goes, “watch out for the obvious,” common sense holds true too. Often times, the answers or solutions are right under our noses. We just need to be pushed into a situation where we have to use the knowledge we have access to and be assertive in making a good decision. So let’s look at some of the ways Jesus used common sense to turn his disciples into dynamic leaders.
With more reason is the literary term for a statement that is intended to elicit a natural agreement among the audience. [1] Essentially it is a common sense argument. For example, Robert Stein observes that in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses this line of reasoning: “Which of you, if your child asks for bread, will give him a stone?”[2]
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus undoubtedly drew many illustrations of the surrounding hills and meadows. Matthew records Jesus arguing from common sense Against the backdrop of the desert: “And why do you care about clothing? See how the lilies of the field grow. They neither toil nor spin” (Matthew 6: 28-30). We should not worry about what we will dress or eat in the same way that the birds of the sky do not sit in their branches “worrying” where they are going to get food.
In sending out the twelve apostles, Jesus used a similar line of reasoning to prepare them for the sting of rejection and persecution they would inevitably face (talk about an out-of-comfort zone experience you were preparing them for! Some of them even would face death for their loyalty to Jesus). Referring to the religious leaders who would surely try to turn these young men over to the local councils (Matthew 10:17), Jesus reminded them of how these same men had already treated him (Matthew 6: 28-30). Why should they expect to be treated differently? That is common sense. Challenge and suffering, perseverance and endurance are part of the spiritual life; even Jesus had to experience this and was the Son of God. In the context of desert ministry, there are a myriad of opportunities to teach these principles because traveling in the desert will inevitably provide experiences outside of the comfort zone that will test our resilience to persevere and persevere. The desert teaches us not to be “surprised” by suffering or trials, but to wait for them. That is common sense, and once someone lets go and accepts this as reality, they will experience much more joy and peace in their life.
In the paired parables of the tower builder and the warrior king (Luke 14: 28-33) we see another common sense statement from Jesus that was intended to provoke a natural agreement among the audience to make a penetrating rebuke that was about to be pleasing. to pronounce. at the end of his parable. Regarding the first parable of the tower builder, the audience must agree with what he says: When it comes to constructing a building, “Do not move forward unless there are sufficient resources.” That makes sense, what kind of builder would start building a house unless they knew they had the skill and resources to finish the project? That is common sense.
Then, as the parable progresses, the audience also has to agree to a second common sense statement in the Parable of the King at War: “Don’t go to war unless you know you can win.” That makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it? What army general goes to battle unless he knows he has the resources to win? Again, we would all agree with this wisdom. Now that Jesus has the audience nodding their heads in common sense, he asks two penetrating questions that should be common sense, but are not due to the spiritual boredom of his audience: 1) Can you allow yourself to follow me? And 2) Can you afford it? not To follow me? So the surprise for Jesus’ audience is this: Either follow him or refusing to follow him, It costs a lifetime either way![3] In other words, choosing to follow Jesus requires dying to yourself, and choosing NOT to follow Jesus also costs a person his life, because Jesus has made it clear that he is the only Way, Truth and Life.
Jesus expects his disciples to renounce everything and follow him. The problem facing your listeners (and Lucas readers) is not simply one of Risk management. Rather, losing everything seems to be inevitable in any case. Jesus did not shy away from showing his followers the stubbornness of their hearts. And he did not avoid scenarios that forced his disciples to make a decision, especially as to whether they believed that he was truly the savior of the world.
Outdoor leaders can have a life-changing impact on those they lead by creating an environment in the outdoor environment where people have to confront situations and make decisions that bring common sense out of people. Some situations require additional skill to determine the best way to overcome the challenge, but in many scenarios we already have access to the knowledge to make a good decision; it’s just a matter of acting on it. By looking at some of the ways that Jesus pressured his followers to use their common sense in leading outdoor adventures, we too can do our participants a great service by pressuring them to exercise common sense in a wide variety of ways. decision-making scenarios.
Through the habitual exercise of common sense, great leaders have learned through experience to “be careful with the obvious.” This allows them to make good decisions quickly even in emotionally charged situations. Outdoor leaders are privileged and honored to pass this gift on to people by using nature’s classroom to encourage them to exercise their common sense muscles as well. That is common sense.
Footnotes:
[1] Knowles, Michael P. Challenge of Jesus’ parables. Grand Rapids: WB Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000., 291.
[2] Robert Stein, The method and message of Jesus’ teachings. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994, 20.
[3] Knowles., 291
