Grace, mercy and peace be with you all. Amen.
I sit here and stare at an empty screen, wondering what new words of wisdom I should impart to you. I am actually here on a Monday night, and the Boy Scouts are running all over the place, and I had the opportunity to overhear a conversation between a few of the boys. They were talk-ing about leadership positions within the troop, and there were two individuals that were looking to fill the same position. It was interesting, because the position was not a patrol leader's position, or the quartermaster, or some other cool sounding position, they both wanted to be the Chaplain's Aide to the troop. That was really something, and it caused me to think just a little bit more about what it is that we teach our children not so much what we physically teach them, but what they learn from observing us.
It also caused me to wonder why so many of these boys wanted to take these leadership positions. Why is it so much easier to find individuals to take leadership positions in something like Scouts, or at the office, or with kids sports, but when it comes time to find individuals to take leadership positions at church it can be so much more difficult. Believe it or not, when I was in seminary, I had one professor that had told us that we would never be at a shortage of volunteers, and that we would have to find ways for all these people that wanted to be on council, but couldn't because of the various terms that people were filling. I was also told that we would have to interview and rank people according to their skill with the children when it came to Sunday School teachers.
Regardless, all of this has caused me to wonder, what it is that I am doing wrong. Why can I not find enough volunteers to fill council, let alone any of the other positions we have here at the church. I know that there are a variety of reasons that people are not involved, and they are all good and valid reasons. But that doesn't stop the need of the congregation. And it ends up being that there are things that we want to get done, but can't due to the lack of volunteers.
The thing is this... There really is something that everyone can do.... I know that there are people that say that they can't do anything, but you are wrong... Even if you just show up, and share a laugh with us, your mere presence helps us, it helps you. You don't drive? Well there are plenty of people that would be more than willing to pick you up. And believe me I know that often people think that because you do something one time, it will be your job forever. If you don't want that, I will not let it happen. I just ask that you come out and join us, share in the activity, and see just what it is that we can all accomplish together. Because I know it will truly be wonderful.
By the way it ended up that both boys said they would both do it... Kinda warms your heart.