The Trainera and the Church: Why We Must All Row Together

 

WE MUST ALL ROW TOGETHER

​These days, the simile of the Church as a "boat" came to my mind; in my case, I compared it to a trainera.

​A trainera is originally a traditional rowing boat from the Spanish Cantabrian coast (typical of communities like the Basque Country, Cantabria, and also Galicia), which was historically used for fishing, especially anchovies and sardines. Its name comes from the fishing net called traíña. Its crew consists of thirteen rowers and a coxswain (steersman) who directs the vessel and sets the pace.

​This metaphor emphasizes the action, joint effort, discipline, and unity that the Church needs to advance in its mission. It is a great simile to highlight the teamwork within the community of believers.

​While the trainera competes with the goal of winning a regatta, the Church's purpose is to spread the Gospel for the salvation of many.

​It doesn't take much imagination to see that a boat with only a steersman does not move from where it is; it remains stationary.

​If we want the boat (the Church) to reach the finish line (doing Christ's will), the steersman (the pastor) and the rowers (brothers and sisters in Christ) must join forces together.

​Because as the Word says in 1 Corinthians 12:12: "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ."