Knowledge and Willingness To Share

"Now why do you want to kayak to see the ponies?" asked the lady on the phone.
I was in the midst of several calls to Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce and wildlife refuge to try to plan my trip in a month to kayak to see the wild ponies. I discovered that no one in the Chamber of Commerce seemed to know how far or even if one could find the wild ponies by kayak.
"I think it is pretty far," said the sweet woman, "But I am not a kayaker." She was the one that asked why I was so determined to see them by water.
"You know, you can just drive to them," she said.
"And I will do that," I assured her, "If we can't find them by kayak...but if I were to kayak from Memorial Park...will they be close enough to find?"
"I just don't know. You could call the wildlife refuge where they live."
She gave me the number of the Wildlife Refuge on Chincoteague Island. I called them next to ask where it would be best for me to launch my kayak to see the wild ponies.
"You can drive to see them, you know."
"Yes, I know...I was hoping to kayak to see them."
"Hmmm, well, I don't really know...but we have a bus tour."


So here are my musings over this exchange. This is a pristine WILD LIFE refuge. Wouldn't one think that environmentally friendly, eco-conscious activities like kayaking to see the WILD LIFE would be what everyone coming to a WILD LIFE refuge would be inclined to do? Why did no one seem to know a thing about kayaking to see the wild ponies?

I called the kayak tour company in the area. They were not very nice or helpful. All my questions were met with the same basic retort, "I don't know. They are wild animals. Our tour guides are trained to find them and that's why you should go on our guided tour." (Our expensive guided tour. She didn't add, but it was implied, and verified by a quick google search.)

Undaunted by her lack of forthcoming-ness, I asked, "But could you just tell me if I launched from Memorial public launch site, how far would I have to kayak to be able to find them?"
"I can't tell you that. That is why you should go on our tour with our trained tour guides."
My next question was met with a dial tone.

But I thought about the many phone calls and the many people I spoke with. The most willing to help were the ones who knew nothing about kayaking, and thus despite being willing to tell me all they knew, what they knew was mostly useless. The ones who kayaked that area every day and had the most knowledge and information were the ones least willing to share it. As always, I wondered if there was a spiritual message in all this.

Of course there was!

Those of us who know the love of God, who understand the depth of Jesus' sacrifice, and the full extent of God's mercy should be the ones shouting the good news to everyone we meet. Oh, we hear plenty about where to find happiness from the folks who spatter sexual promiscuity across our movies and TV shows, and wanton, violent, relativistic, materialistic themes in our songs, magazines, news, and video games...they are more than willing to share their immorality and depravity and lusts of the flesh. But we, who have the glorious truth of eternal life...how eagerly are we sharing the knowledge that alone can save, that alone brings true contentment?

By piecing together advice from a series of phone calls to a whole bunch of people, I determined that if I kayak towards the lighthouse, across the Channel, I have a chance of finding the ponies. It is about 45 minutes, very doable for my sister accompanying me, who is not a regular kayaker.  Then if we don't find the ponies, we can climb the lighthouse which has a stupendous view, and we might see the ponies from there. On Day 2, we drive to the public launch in the Refuge, and  head to Tom's Cove in our kayaks. We have a good shot at seeing the ponies in that area, and I am guessing dolphin might feed in the shelter of the cove. Or maybe not. I knew the kayak company could have told me, but instead, they would rather I float around till darkness descends rather than share their priceless secrets for free.

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Mark 16:15 

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Jeremiah 1:7-8

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”

1 Peter 3:15 

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Acts 1:8 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Romans 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Colossians 4:2-6 

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.