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 How
many of you have wrapped a string ball? For a super- duper,
start with a small hard rubber center, perhaps a “jacks”
ball. A paper wad will do if you don’t have the ”jacks”
ball. Then tightly wrap the twine, around and around, slightly
rotating the ball with each turn so it does not cross at the
same places and create north and south “poles.” The more
tightly and evenly it is wrapped, the better the ball. Then,
when proper size is obtained — or you run out of string —
the sewing begins. We used a big-eyed needle, waxed the thread
with bees wax, and would sometimes have to pull the needle
through with a pair of pliers. Sew thoroughly the top third of
the wrapping if you expect the ball to hold together.
After
several games the sewing begins to break, and the ball grows
whiskers. It “sings” when it is hit hard, and the whiskers
slow down its flight. You “shave” the ball now and then, but
soon one side is going to burst out with a beard, and the game
is called off. You can spend the afternoon arguing who would
have won if the ball had stayed together.
And
congregations have some of the characteristics of a string ball.
A good one is tightly wrapped about a hard core — resilient
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enough to take a blow, then spring back into
shape. Each wrap is in its place, serving the needs of the
whole, and having no desire to be heaped into nobby peaks,
forming cliques that make a lop-sided ball. It is well sewn with
love for the Lord, and for one another; and when a string breaks
an immediate effort is made to sew it back into the ball. “Shaving”
is always a last resort, sadly undertaken; for the members know
that although it is sometimes necessary, it represents a
breakdown in “oneness” and may portend the day of the big
“burst.”
But
good string balls, and congregations, are not made to decorate
the mantle. They are made to be used. The firm, soul-satisfying
“crack” of a ball well hit tells us the ball is performing
as it should, serving its purpose. But when the ball, or church,
begins to swell, and become “soggy” — when it becomes
whisker laden and no one has enough interest to give it a shave
— the end is at hand. The energy of the best hitter is
absorbed in the sodden mess, and a home-run swing does well to
get one on first. Pretty soon the game will be called and
nothing left to do but to argue.
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