I worked harder this week than any week I can remember. Every single day pushed my body to the limit as we demolished walls and tore out ceilings and rammed away at concrete posts (and cleaned it all up). It took longer than I expected. I injured myself several times and I feel like I just finished a Tae Bo marathon.
In my (very) idealistic mind I imagined that volunteers would come out of the woodwork to share the load in this exciting endeavor. We wouldn’t have enough space and work for the volunteers to do because they would be too numerous. After all, the “amens” were so loud when I announced that we paid the deposit on the space after a miracle donor came out of nowhere!
We announced the need for volunteers on last Sunday. Sent out an email on Sunday night. Put it out on Twitter & Facebook. Delivered mass text messages. Made phone calls…
However, the crowd never came. A few faithful volunteers trickled in here and there and they worked hard. I mean really hard. Dirty, sweaty, nasty hard. Over the course of this week I think a total of about 10 people volunteered…maybe less.
Many times I found myself working in the office alone…a bit discouraged by the daunting workload staring me back in the face. One day I actually fell off of a 10 foot ladder as I was removing ceiling tiles and hilariously caught myself on the dry wall and dangled there for a few seconds while I thanked God that I was alive. I thought to myself, “at least no one was here to laugh.” It was funny…particularly since I didn’t get hurt.
After calling a bunch of friends on Wednesday (and Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) and getting almost no response, I was seconds away from looking at the glass of my life as half-empty by throwing a pity party. I am a notoriously optimistic guy, so this is a very big deal for me and right before I started to get sad, I really felt like the Lord prompted me to not focus on who didn’t show up, but to be thankful for each person that did! They were few in number, but they worked hard and were proud to do so.
We are a bit behind schedule, but I refuse to look at where we are as being half-empty…we’re half-full. And…forever the optimist, I am believing that a new crew of volunteers will show up this week and take our work to a whole nutha level!
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Hey Pastor Shaun,
Every time I look at your blogs I feel as though I can relate, and tonight I found myself twisting and turning on my bed and found myself kinda depressed. Like yourself I too am usually an optimist, and I usually look at the brighter side of things but this week I was just really bumbed. I fealt like I was in a funk that I just could not wiggle myself out of, and in a sense I totally understood how you felt, disappointed (even though we were not going through the same thing), and I did get to a point where I was throwing my self a pity party and to be honest, and this is just me being real, I was depressed….then I woke up today about 10 minutes ago not being able to go back to sleep, I was re focused by the words that you wrote on your blog. Things aren’t going the way I want them to or as I hoped but they’re not as bad as they could be. Thanks Pastor Shaun today I live to keep filling up my glass!
-BJ
I know exactly how you feel! I have been working in my community to start a visual and performing arts charter school. People say they are excited about the idea and want the school to open, but they don't show up when they are needed. You would not believe how hard it is to get people to respond to emails! I never asked for any physical labor, just for families to take the time to send letters so that elected and appointed officials know that we (mostly African Americans) want school choice in our community. It's still hard for me to believe that we can be so complacent, when there are so many opportunities available to us. Especailly considering that we are in Atlanta, the birthplace of Dr. King……You have done some amazing things and you are revolutionizing how we (society) view 'church.' You already know that your efforts will not go unnoticed or unrewarded.
Keep the faith…I need your inspiration to keep me going!
"Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."
Matthew 9:37 NIV
Praying the Lord will bring new workers! :)
Hey there is a typo in your post. You said God encouraged you but that was actually me. I understand that you would get us confused. I guess I'm always in your ear and don't leave much space for anyone else :-)
Seriously though ditto to what Karla said. You already know this. No pity parties. You've been tremendously blessed with the number of people who have committed to this vision. They all won't do everything. But most do something. Jesus had a solid 12 (11 really) and a few more here and there. And he was Jesus Christ! So your glass is without a doubt half FULL!
i have to tell you shaun,i am looking in new jersey for a good mission-minded,outreach-minded church to join and cant find one. i know theres more to being a christian than singing and believing in the lord for the things YOU want to aquire in YOUR life. i wanna help people…iwanna roll up my sleeves and get my hands dirty and make a difference in this world for GOD.thats why i gotta tell you to keep doing what youre doing and people will be drawn to the Courageous Church..IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME lol.man i wish i lived in Atlanta!!!
I write this reply to encourage you and all you do. I started a project this year that God had been in my spirit to do for a while. And when I FINALLY decide to move in it I was like "Ta da!!! I'm here….great cause!!! Let's do this!!" Only to hear crickets as the response. This caused me to question, "maybe I'm wrong…maybe I mistook God's command." But more and more I'm realizing that it sometimes builds your conviction with God even more.
In a weird way, when I came in last week I too expected the space to be overflowing with volunteers, but found only you, a hammer, and the radio playing…I was perplexed and saddened…then encouraged. Encouraged because I KNOW beyond a doubt that your vision for the space and the Courageous movement is PURELY of and from God. So it showed me that sometimes being the only armor bearer is not a sign of misguidance but a step along your path with God. I agree with all the comments, especially Rai's–I mean if Christ had 12/11 then we can expect no more to do those greater things (reminds me of this verse…not meaning AT ALL that non-volunteerism constitutes hate but the comparison between us and Christ proves true – "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you").
Keep doing what your doing!!! So many people's lives will be changes by this "movement command center :P"
When feeling a lil half empty think of Plumpy Nut (http://www.theywilldie.org) with the visual of that child whose life WILL inevitably be saved through plans that WILL be birthed out of that space as you chip away at drywall….IT IS ALL WORTH IT!!!
Stay encouraged and half full!!
Side note: I also learned that if God gives you the vision, it will get it done somehow and we can't try to do it all. So when it comes to your health and rest take heed–we need a healthy-nonladder-injured Pastor Shaun :P, to lead this movement–it will get done.
We love you Jinean…seriously, you are the bomb- I'm sorry. I'm so not cool anymore. Is it still ok to say "the bomb?"
Every summer at my church we do a "Project Fix-up Weekend" The pastor does a campaign and gives the numbers of what it would cost to outsource the projects and what we save by volunteering. We are blessed to be be able to afford a maintenance staff and a comfortable budget (hard times for us too), but we are asked to "stretch" and reap the benefits and blessings of the fellowship.
The projects are broken down to painting, plastering, cleaning storage space, etc and broken up in 2-4 hour allotments. It gives people a beginning and end to their committment and the opportunity to know that at least one hour is appreciated. The turn out is always good and I love getting to know other membership outside of worship services.
Be encouraged and I love you brother.