Rolling Stones

You've no doubt heard it said, "A rolling stone gathers no moss."  The idea behind that tidbit of wisdom is that motion prevents the dulling effect of accumulated add-ons.  However, motion by itself does little to alter the stone itself.  It remains pretty much unchanged if it rolls unimpeded and unchallenged.

On the other hand, if a stone is rolled against other stones, the stone itself undergoes a transition.  Located on the Monterey Peninsula of California is a world-renown golf course called Pebble Beach.  It is so called due to the naturally polished pebbles on the beaches.  The constant motion of the waves, causing the pebbles to roll against one another changes them from little rocks you  can find at any point along the coast to a highly polished treasure that people take home to sit on their mantles on on their desks.

The rolling against one another, doesn't just mitigate the dulling effect of outward parasites,it changes the very shape and texture of the rock.  The resulting friction caused by the alternate movement against one another doesn't cause the damage one might expect, but rather improvement: "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Pr 27:17).

This is true when their is the friction caused by alternate motion unless their is direct clashing against each principle.  In other words, if we discuss and debate different ideas, we can fine-tune our thinking.  If, on the other hand, we butt heads, we are likely to only produce headaches and prevent positive change.  The rolling stones become a dam, which stops up any flow past the jam.

Always moving together allows forward motion and progress along the path one is traveling.  However, rubbing against each other, causing a bit of friction, allows for change and growth.  Confrontation, carried out in a productive way, causes productive change.  Just rolling along together, doing what you've always done may be comfortable but it will not allow for growth.

Let's be rolling stones keeping the dullness of lethargy from setting in but let us also roll in contrasting ways, looking to cause increase in one another rather then blocking passage.  In the words of the 1974 Rolling Stones release, "It's only rock and roll but I like it."  Jus' Say'n.