Giving of Myself
With that said, volunteering…there are so my non-profits, community
organizations, churches, animal shelters, food banks, kids’ sports, school
PTAs…this list goes on but one thing they all have in common is every one of
them need volunteers. The need for volunteers grows stronger all the while the volunteer
pool gets smaller. Why is that? Organizations always market where they need
volunteers. One thing I haven’t seen is an answer to the question every
potential volunteer asks themselves but won’t admit it, “What’s in it for me?” We
are in an era of immediate gratification and limited time. It sounds like a
selfish question but hear me out as I digress for a moment.
Parents with kids are consumed with play dates, soccer
practice multiple times a week with games at least once a week, sometimes all
weekend. If not for soccer then just add a sport, dance or other extracurricular
activity. Now throw in dinner somewhere, homework, bath time. All of this on
top of a full-time job and homework. Might I add that full-time jobs are no
longer restricted to 40 hours a week. If you’re in any kind of management
you’re most likely salary and work an additional 10 to 20+ hours a week. In
sales? Your hours are all over the place. Own a business? Forget it. Now add a
couple more kids to the mix. People in general are limited on time. If someone
is going to give up an hour or two once a week or a couple times a month, to
them, it has to be worth it especially with so many organizations recruiting
attempts. If a person is getting paid or achieving their own goal, they are not
going to want to make time for something in an already jam-packed schedule.
Someone begging for volunteers isn’t going to sway them for anything long-term
or even short-term in most cases.
Years ago, I used to be highly involved in the Westerville
community and loved every moment of it. I was fortunate enough to be awarded
Volunteer of the Month on a few occasions while serving in the Westerville Area
Chamber of Commerce many moons ago. What drove me to get involved in the first
place was networking for my job. I found this to be the case with most everyone
else I met through those kinds of organizations. Being in sales and business
development I couldn’t help but notice a lot of people were only talking to me
because they wanted me to buy something. Often times, I’m sure they wondered
the same about me because of my job title. They were wonderful people, and a
few of them I still follow on social media 15+ years later but that’s about as
far as it goes. I can’t say I made a lasting impact on someone’s life though I
strongly believe in giving back to the community. If all people do is take
there won’t be anything left for us to take.
My motivation for serving at the church? Completely
different than hitting business growth goals. I wanted to make an impact on
someone’s life. I knew I wasn’t a pastor. I hadn’t attended bible college or
even participated in bible study groups. But I read my bible often and I really
loved Jesus. I had a heart for loving people. I had a desire to help them to
feel seen. God gave me a gift of hospitality and the experience from previous
jobs to make a difference. What I didn’t know I was going to get in return was
a spiritual mother that supports and encourages my walk with God. She taught me
how to pray and to speak life into a situation. I got to meet people who wanted
to pray over me. I met people who took an interest in my life and my family
without wanting me to buy something. I made friends who celebrated with me when
God moved in my life. I made friends who inspired me not because of the big,
fancy titles I may have held and vice versa. These people inspired me because I
watched them speak life into others. I watched these people hug others not only
in their grief by also in their joy. These behaviors helped my heart open to
what God wanted to do in my life. I learned so much from the people I served
with at the church because I got to spend time with them outside of a church
service or a networking event. My relationship with God is so much stronger
because I surrounded myself with church volunteers and they let me be a part of
their lives. I made it my mission to serve others. To put others first.
Was serving regularly easy for me? No! The first two months
I served at the church my mom was at home fighting for her life thanks to stage
4 cancer. My husband and I at the time ran nine business between the two of us.
Did I mention we also had a teenager, four dogs and a horse? But God!!
I remember I had been
volunteering at the church every Sunday and any additional services that may
have been held during the week. As a greeter, most churches ask that you stay
in your spot for at least 10 or 15 minutes after the service begins. People are
always late. LOL I remember I had been helping someone with getting their kids
checked into Sunday School one service and answering questions for a new guest
another service. Both times I ended up missing the praise and worship part of
the service and was mad! Some people may think that’s not a big deal but I will
tell you, your praise and worship is what ushers in the presence of God. You
want God to move in your life? You had better get your praise and worship on!
More on that topic at a later date.
After the second time I missed praise and worship I remember
sitting in my seat irritated. I was considering even serving less so that I
wasn’t in a position to miss out on the church services. I’m sure my crappy
attitude caused me to miss the majority of the message being delivered from the
pulpit that day because I couldn’t think about anything else!.
Driving home I was by myself in the car. Shaun drove
separately with my dad since I had to be at church early to serve. I had just
pulled out of the parking lot of the church and was sitting at a traffic light.
I hadn’t turned the radio on. The windows and the convertible top on my car was
up. I hear, “You worship me when you serve my people!” As if a man was sitting
in the passenger seat of my car. The words were so loud that I looked in my
rearview mirror expecting to see someone sitting behind me. Son of a gun! God
rebuked me again!!! I immediately teared up and got my act together.
It was my attitude and anger that caused me to miss an
message God may have needed me to hear. It was my bad attitude that had me
considering backing off from serving God’s people. God needed me to get my
heart posture right. I was being selfish. I wanted to serve when it was
convenient for me. I was mad because helping someone had put me out when they
were there searching for God. I’m heating up just typing all of this!
When I got my heart right and served God’s people with love,
opportunities began to open up. Job offers, promotions, miracles, mentors I
never imagined would take the time to sit with me and teach me. It was out of
obedience to God that God blessed me.
I have been called self-righteous. I have been called a
bible beater. I have lost friends because I don’t go to the bars and believe
that God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are one. I believe God still talks
to His people provided they walk the path of a Christian throughout the week
rather than just on Sunday mornings. I pray the people who have known me for a
long time can say I am a completely different person today from who I was even
just a year ago. I’m not self-righteous. You just see a girl who has had a few
encounters with the Living God and who wants nothing more than to be obedient
to Him so that others may open their heart.
Easter is this weekend and we will celebrate not only Jesus’
crucifixion, but His resurrection! Easter is the busiest church service of the
year. I hope you consider giving your time to the new people walking thru the
doors of your church. It could have not only their life, but yours as well. Who
knows, maybe you’re that new person walking thru the doors of a church. If you
are, I celebrate you and the journey you are about to take with Jesus.
God bless!
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