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Finish what you start

A person commits to being on a committee or board and then feels free to not show up to meetings.
Now, I understand when schedules conflict and such. But what about when you just don’t feel like it?
I was quite taken aback last week when someone shared with me that they didn’t go to the last two important church board meetings because “they just didn’t feel like it.” What?????

I must not be the norm. I feel obligated to attend the meetings that go along with the things I am involved in- even when I don’t feel like it. Not feeling like it is not an option for me.
Follow me as I ponder— isn’t part of being an adult doing the things you don’t like to do but are obligated to do? Isn’t that part of life? Sure, there are things I’d love to skip out on or wish they’d hand out handy cards that state: “Get out of one 3 hour board meeting FREE” . . . .

I make my kids eat the veggies they don’t like. I make them say sorry when they probably don’t mean it and often make them “kiss and make up”. I tell them they have to come inside even if they don’t want to. They have to take a bath even though they just had one last week. I tell them they have to go to bed even if they aren’t tired and must get up. As a child you dream of the day when you are “your own person”—sleep when you want, eat when and what you want, wake up when you want . . . . . Ah, you say to yourself- “that’ll be the good life”.
Then you grow up and realize that life doesn’t really exist.

I remember when I moved into my first apartment. The first thing I did was bake a huge pan of brownies that I didn’t have to share with anyone else. I cut the biggest slice- right out of the middle and ate it. I ate brownies for breakfast the next day and the next. Had a brownie for a mid-day snack . . . . .
I found after the 3^rd or 4^th day that I no longer craved the brownies or got a rush from being able to eat as much brownie as I wanted. I no longer wanted. I ended up taking the rest of the pan to my parent’s house and sharing with my family. My momma told me it was “too much of a good thing”.
Part of being an adult is “fulfilling your obligations”- and if you agreed to be on a board or committee then you MUST fulfill your obligation and attend the meetings. My mind whirs as I think that I voted to elect this person to our church board and now I hear them say “It was going to be a long, tough meeting and I didn’t feel like going.” WHAT?
You know- some days I don’t feel like homeschooling or cleaning up after Mr. C’s “accidents” or making a home cooked meal or washing the clothes and making the beds. Some days I don’t even feel like getting out of bed- but I am obligated to do so . . . . life doesn’t roll to a stop just because I’d like it to.
My parents raised me to give my all to every endeavor to take on- whether I liked it or not; whether I wanted to or not. My father has told me many times it’s about integrity and good character. Finish what you started and if you didn’t like it then don’t do it again!

Old Jewish Saying

1:06 PM, 2007-Nov-16 .. Posted by April in RI

One of my husband's friends gave us an interesting framed artwork as a wedding present. Knowing my husband's background is Jewish, like his, he chose an old rabbinic adage. I love it so much that it hangs on our wall today. It says: "You are not obligated to complete the task, but neither are you free to abandon it." I think it sums up an adult's obligations very well!

- April

PS: I enjoy your blog very much!

Love it!

1:22 PM, 2007-Nov-16 .. Posted by YPAmy5

Oh, I love that quote. In fact, I just added it to my little quote book.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Amy W

Untitled Comment

2:33 PM, 2007-Nov-16 .. Posted by Anonymous

Maybe this person volunteered in the 'flesh' and it was not God's Will for that particular person to be in that position anyway?
Maybe that person and God had a meeting, and He told them this is not where they belong?
Maybe this person sees what they have signed up for is not "what they signed up for" and feels that this is a waste of their time?

Have everyone pray about it, and select the person God has called to that position.....and release that other person from their duties.

Good point

3:21 PM, 2007-Nov-16 .. Posted by YPAmy5

Anonymous does have a point about volunteering "in the flesh". It is vitally important that we pray and seek God's will when we take on new jobs/ministries. It is also important to realize that if we have already gone and taken something on without prayerfully considering it, it isn't too late to pray- you might find God asking you to step down or step away or you may just find that God can work and minister through you right where you are- even if it is a poor fit. For the moment.
Thinking on holding a church board position- I do not think that anyone who holds one of these positions can really know all that it may entail or ask of them until they are in the midst of it all- which is a VERY good reason to be in prayer before taking on such a position.
It has only been within the last few years that I have come to understand and grasp the concept about praying before making decisions- ANY decision. I've made a LOT of hasty decisions that may have played out differently if I'd only taken the time to seek God's will for me. Now, when I am asked to be on a committee or hold a position or some other such volunteer "thing" is asked of me, my response is "I will prayerfully consider it and get back to you by . . ." and I give a definite deadline- no one wants to be left hanging. And then I follow thru.
Amy W

Edited by YPAmy5 on 2007-Nov-16 at 2:26 PM

Untitled Comment

8:06 AM, 2007-Nov-17 .. Posted by Joanne

I think that if someone realizes that a position which they volunteered for was "in the flesh", they should humbly step down so the place could be filled by someone else. This person was very arrogent in admitting that they just didn't "feel like" attending the meetings...no humility here. Not going to meetings or not even trying to do the job is selfish and irresponsible. We still have to be responsible for our choices, even though it may not be what God would have chosen for us.
when I had been very involved in our previous church, oftentimes someone will volunteer for a position, with good intentions, because there was a need in the church.....yet just did not have the resources to do the job. Even in those cases, they need to admit that they over-extended themselves.
Joanne