by Eddie Pipkin
This is the last in my series based on my recent backpacking trip to Yosemite National Park and this week, it’s all about the gear. Things have changed a lot since the pioneering environmentalist John Muir first explored the fabled California valley in 1868 with a walking stick, an ax, and a leather pouch of deer jerky. Technological innovations have radically transformed comfort and cooking in the backcountry, just like they have changed all areas of human activity. I did some equipment upgrades before heading out, and boy oh boy, did they increase my enjoyment of the trip. Whatever we’re doing, whatever our objective, ministry or otherwise, the right gear can be an excellent investment in productivity and sanity.
I have been hiking for four decades, so I have had a lot of hiking-related equipment over those years. When I did my first big multi-day adventure, I had a pack that weighed about 45 pounds and a lawn chair bungee corded to the outside of my pack. If you’ve ever seen the movie, A Walk in the Woods, I was Nick Nolte’s totally clueless character.
Over the years, I have learned that the minimization of the weight in the pack is the holy grail of an excursion. You do everything possible to account for every ounce, and it is amazing to realize just how little you actually need to get by for several days. You think there are so many things that are essential that turn out not to be. You hesitate not to include the things you might need “just in case,” but you learn over time that’s mostly dead weight. There are workarounds and substitutions and possible emergency improvisations, so after a while, you really are down to the essential essentials. But for the essential essentials, it’s perfectly reasonable to get the good stuff. Now, I’m not bougie about my gear (as the young people say). That is, it doesn’t have to have a brand name stamped on it or a deluxe sticker price. But it does need to be well made and dependable. A trekking pole that won’t stay locked in place is downright dangerous, and a backpack that doesn’t have a comfortable fit is a misery. So is rain gear that won’t keep you dry or a sleeping bag that won’t keep you warm.
For the first big hike of my seventh decade, I indulged myself in ways I never had before. I finally, after all these nights sleeping in the woods, invested in a quality super-lightweight inflatable air mattress. Oh, the divine luxury! Oh, the comfort and sound sleep. No more rocks and sticks poking me in the back, or the cold seeping up into my tired body. Worth! Every! Penny! I invested in a new one-man backpacking tent, too. It will probably last me the next twenty years. It definitely enhanced my trip.
My dad used to love to talk about the efficiency of having the right tool for the right job. It’s revelatory, when working around the house or deeply engaged in a hobby, how a specialized tool can save hours and make things more rewarding, even fun. I have some distinctly designed yard tools that simplify the care of my large and demanding yard. My son built gaming computers for him and his wife.
For those us of who have spent time in ministry, whether we are paid staff or dedicated volunteers, the right equipment can have a big impact. Whether it’s a new LED theater lighting system, a bus, the right smartphone, a great camera, digital signage, the perfect coffee machine, or a banging portable sound system, our mission can be enhanced by the right tools. That doesn’t mean we should be spendthrifts, tossing money about willy-nilly, obsessed with the newest, flashiest gizmo and gadget that promises to transform our lives. We should spend judiciously and responsibly and where we can get the most bang for our buck (which is called stewardship, one of the hallmarks of discipleship). But we should understand that investing in the proper gear really can unleash our creativity or unburden us from tedium if done thoughtfully and with precision. Here are some ideas for how to invest in ways that will make a difference:
- Take your time.
Don’t rush out and buy something just because of the excitement of the moment. Take the time to think carefully and work through all of the other evaluative steps. Likewise, don’t rush out and buy something out of desperation. In rare cases a piece of equipment or a new digital aid might solve an immediate crisis, but it’s not the norm. Don’t let exuberance or desperation do your deciding for you.
- Do your research.
There are many resources for evaluating the efficacy of a piece of equipment or a digital aid. Check in with experts you trust. Read the reviews, not looking only at those star ratings, but paying close attention to the comments of others to identify characteristics that will make a difference in your unique context. Talk to other humans who have used the thing you are thinking about acquiring.
- Prove the need.
Live for a while without this new thing you think might make a difference, making notes about how you would apply it if you had it. Observe your circumstances and routine exhaustively, imagining the way the new thing would be having an impact if it were available. Discuss this with others who are involved or who know you and your situation. Would it really make a significant difference (contrasted with the cost involved)? What could some potential cons be?
- Test if possible.
If it’s possible to borrow a version of the thing you are thinking of acquiring, do it! Trying something out is a great way to see if the imagined benefits live up to the reality. This is a thing people do with cars (rent the one you think you want to buy first and try it out) and recreational vehicles or e-bikes (is it really going to be as much fun as it is in your head?). If you can’t borrow something for use in your location, visit somewhere (or someone) where the thing is already in use and observe it in action. Be sure to ask the users what is involved in maintenance and upkeep to achieve prime results from the thing!
- Acknowledge that gear is a personal preference.
Sometimes you are acquiring gear for your personal use (like when you are choosing from the dozens of options for a smartphone or laptop), so in those cases personal preference trumps other considerations, but sometimes we are acquiring a new piece of gear or implementing a new system that impacts the broader organization. In those cases, it is very important that we take into account the differences in personal preferences. What might seem a wonderful innovation to me, might be a painful adjustment for you. We’re looking for maximum benefits on balance.
- Ask what we can do instead.
Before spending a lot of money or taking on a massive change, think carefully about what the alternatives are. My wife and I just spent a year with only one car between us (which actually worked out pretty well – maybe I’ll do a blog on that experiment sometime soon). Are there easier, less expensive ways to achieve most of your core objectives than investing in something shiny and new?
Of course, some of the most popular examples of ministry gear these days, as noted in some of the above bullet points, are apps for every occasion. There are AI engines and programs and widgets and software management tools that promise to reinvent the ministry altogether. Some of them are indeed useful. Lots of them are from businesses who are highly invested in selling you the dream whether they are offering a great product or not. When considering the purchase of an app or software, refer back to those questions for when to upgrade gear, and do all the steps twice! Software changes and app adaptations are some of the most intense shifts we can ask employees, volunteers, and ministry users to undertake. When they don’t work as advertised, they can be seriously disruptive.
What is one piece of gear, equipment, software, or tool that changed your reality in a positive and lasting way? Was acquiring it an easy decision to make? Was something you had thought about and studied for a while or more of an impulse buy? What is an example of a thing you thought was going to make a big difference in your life that turned out to not be worth the trouble – for me, those health monitor watches have always been a bust! Share your stories and gear adventures in the comments section below.
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