Marco Polo

             I spent a couple of my childhood years in Lancaster, California.  That's high desert for those of you who've never visited.  Or perhaps you drove right on through with your windows up and the A/C on full blast.  I understand.  You could cook a steak on the sidewalk there.
            The good news was that swimming pools were commonplace in our neighborhood.  Not at our house, but at most others.  My buddies and I spent many hot afternoons under the cover of water playing "Marco Polo".  You know that game, right?  It's basically a game of tag, but with a catch.  You're blind.  If you are "it", you must keep your eyes closed and call out "Marco", to which, the others in the pool say "Polo".  That gives you a clue as to where they are though you can't see them.  Your ears, in a sense (pun intended), become your eyes.  Fun game!
            Being 40 now, it's been years since I  played "Marco Polo" in a swimming pool with my friends.  I'm still playing the game though.  And you'll never guess who I play this game with.  Well, as every good Sunday School student knows, the answer to every question is "Jesus".  Yes, you got it right!  Jesus and I play "Marco Polo".  We play daily.  I guess Jesus really likes this game because we're playing it all the time.
            Yeah, so what in the world am I talking about?  As a church leader, it falls on me to cast the vision for our church fellowship.  Where are we headed and how do we get there?  Well, that's not actually my decision to make.  Jesus is still the Head of His Church regardless of what title you give me.  He has the vision for our fellowship.  He has the plan.  He knows how to get us there.  My job is to try to keep track of where He is and follow.  Maybe you're making the connection now.  I say "Marco" and Jesus says "Polo".  That gives me a sense of where He is and which direction to move.
            Again, as a pastor, it's not my job to set the vision for God's Church.  God gets to make those decisions.  He does set leaders in place though to help guide His people along the journey.  So, I do need to be able to sense where He's leading.  Practically speaking, that means the leadership in the church needs to be praying.  That's our "Marco".  Jesus responds with a "Polo", which may come to us in prayer or perhaps a bit later in a conversation with another saint.  It may come as we read the Scriptures.  It may come while preparing a sermon.  The "Polo" is sent in a variety of ways, none of them, to my dismay, are a literal voice saying "Polo".  Man, that would be easy, wouldn't it? 
            So, if I do happen to say "Marco" during one of our group prayer times, please don't think me mad.  At least not for that reason.  I'm just calling out to discover where our Master is leading us these days.  Now that you know the game, perhaps you'll join in and keep an ear out for His "Polo".