Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else. Someone’s passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person’s share of the work. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone’s list, “Let Someone Else do it.” Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results; “Someone Else can work with that group.”
It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in our church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference. Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did? When you are asked to help this year, remember — we can’t depend on Someone Else anymore. ~Author Unknown
These words are so true. To get the things accomplished that need to be done, we must have people in our congregation step up to the task. Whether building Sunday School classes or helping strengthen youth ministry, we must have committed souls to help. The church leaders are not responsible for getting the programs just right. The participants make the program and not the other way around. Whatever our history has been, it is time to move on to the present and then the future. What we agree on makes us stronger. What we disagree on weakens us. All of us have been praying for the “good of our Church.”
Now comes the time to step up and commit to helping. It is the only way to keep the church from the fate of Somebody Else.
Ken