All Hands on Deck
The current state of affairs in the country and the world dictates that it’s time out for looking around to see who’s doing what so we can criticize and/or assess. It’s time out for sitting around, doing nothing. And it’s time out for not knowing what’s at stake because we can’t be bothered. This is the time for every single one of us to figure out our part and do it. As children, we were repeatedly asked one question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Some still don’t have an answer to the question because some still haven’t grown up, despite our ages, but it’s time to do just that because right now, everyone is needed in the fight. It’s all hands on deck.
A little research on my part verified what I already figured—that the “all hands on deck” expression has naval origins. When the captain gave that call, often in an emergency, every sailor was expected to report to the deck and assist. That directive has remained a part of our vocabulary, although most of us never hear it on a ship. We hear it at work when everyone is expected to show up even when it’s not during our usual hours. We hear it in our community groups when there’s a tight deadline to meet. No doubt, first responders heard it on 9/11. And when those brave men and women arrived, I’m certain no one stood around doing nothing. Too much was on the line.
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Our world seems upside down right now. The attack on Israel on October 7 was horrific and still difficult to digest; the ensuing ongoing war has brought more death and destruction as Israel fights for its very existence against an enemy hell-bent on annihilation; and the antisemitism on display seemingly everywhere is disturbing, to say the least.
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In the United States, fear is rampant, food prices are rising, crime is increasing, and suicide is surging. I point all of this out not because I believe there’s no hope. On the contrary, as a Christian, I know there’s hope—in Christ alone. I highlight this because we have been entrusted with so much. If I were God, I don’t know if I would have placed such trust in fallible mankind, who has shown time and again just how much of a hot mess we can be. But God’s grace! Throughout history, God has always used humans to do superhuman things by His power, placing incredible responsibility in man’s hands, then asking the question of us that He asked Moses: “What is that you have in your hand?” We love to complain about what we don’t have. God wants to know what we do have. He doesn’t ask because He doesn’t know the answer; God never asks a question He doesn’t already know the answer to. He asks us so we will focus on the resources already at our disposal.
Whatever we have in our hands, it’s time to use it. We need all hands on deck. What can each one of us do to share the light, to expose the dark, to make a difference? All hands on deck! If you write, it’s time to write; your words can go where you never will. If you teach, find some people to teach. If you’ve been wanting to start a podcast to spread truth, figure out how to do it, and let’s go. If you cook, make a meal and take it to your discouraged neighbor. If you’re a prayer warrior, you’re called to the battlefield. So pray for Israel. Pray for America. Pray for the hurting. Pray! If you have a heart for innocent life, advocate for the unborn. If you sing, volunteer your voice somewhere. Young people are struggling with identity; if you have an encouraging spirit, find some to pour into, and let them know they were created in the image of God. If you have a servant’s heart, run for office. If you preach, preach the Good News. The Gospel still is the Good News. And no, you don’t need a pulpit to preach.
All hands on deck means no excuses, no sitting this one out, no messing around, and no looking to someone else. There’s a ship to be righted, and we each have to take up the cause. You can’t necessarily do what someone else does, and they may not be able to do what you do—so no jealousy and no parroting. What is in your hand?
The time is now, and I pray that instead of looking around for someone else to fix the mess we find ourselves in, we recognize how valuable we are and engage. If we all just show up with what’s in our own hands, I believe God will take care of the rest.