I was asked to join a group to help poor people, but its been a year since we formed, and all we do is attend boring meetings, and argue about correct meeting format. One lady actually works with the poor for a living, and maybe shes burned out, but she makes negative comments about poor people. I was questioned about why I havent been attending (guilted me), but he already knows in his heart, bc he mentioned we are getting ready to get the ball rolling. Ok, call me when that happens. I WANT to help. But I can think of better ways to socialize than falling asleep at meetings. I may go one more time, and if its the same old same old, Im just gonna say, call me if you need an extra hand.
–frustrated and over it.
The old ready … aim … aim some more … and more (and NEVER fire!) syndrome.
Sorry to lose some with the gun analogy … but we never hit our targets if we never holler
“GO !”
Your headline tells it all. Good summary. Per Christianity, I’m reminded of a couple things.
1. Lessons from the Loaves and Fishes LK 9:13, Matt 14:16, Mk 6:37
“Why don’t YOU give them SOMETHING (to eat)” – Jesus *emphases mine
Jesus’ advice was in response to the apostles telling Him about a social problem He was already aware of. A large crowd was in a deserted place, without visible hospitality available in the immediate area. Apparently the apostles ***also had a meeting. *** And concluded that they’d advise God of a more superior agenda than just letting Him continue teaching the people (i.e. giving them “food” of the spiritual and everlasting kind).
They were advisors. They had done nothing but recognize the (rather obvious) problem. But they were impatient to see its resolution … ostensibly with the highest of social justice intentions … but *without much (or any) personal commitment. * Jesus simply posed the question above (I imagined the emphasis) … changing the grandiose idea(s) of
feeding everybody (or having everybody solve their own problem and walking out on God’s sermon in favor of … food) … into a
“DO what you can with what you have for the people you can …” practicality.
Jesus then blessed the few loaves and fishes, obediently now provided by the apostles, and gave distribution orders which were obeyed … to miraculous results. What began with humble DOING something tangible … ended up accomplishing the high aims of the apostles … and remains as a lesson to us all. Per this … get to doing SOMETHING … instead of interminable and fruitless planning which never does anything but acknowledge obvious problems already known to all.
2. Sirach Chapter 2
Our old Young Adult Ministry adopted this Chapter for our first team meetings, reminding us all that we had trials ahead of us (and a spiritual enemy opposed to us) whenever we began to do the Lord’s work.
When You Come To Serve The Lord, Prepare Yourself For Trials**
2:1 My son, when you come to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for trials.
2 Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity.
3 Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will your future be great.
4 Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient;
5 For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation.
6 Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in him.
7 You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy, turn not away lest you fall.
8 You who fear the LORD, trust him, and your reward will not be lost.
9 You who fear the LORD, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy.
10 Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his fear and been forsaken? has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?
11 Compassionate and merciful is the LORD; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble.
At verse 12 Sirach gave warnings about some of the problems you mention. Admonishments are not as popular to quote as encouragements, but if another reader reads verses 12 - 18, finishing the short chapter, it is pretty powerful guidance to meetings to get GOING (beyond discussion).
vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PM4.HTM
On a personal note, I was once at a Charismatic prayer meeting in which much prayer was offered (mostly petitions for ending hardships and complaining to God about problems as it happened).
Some people began speaking in tongues (new to me at the time) and a leader said that it was best not to just pray in tongues, but if any had an interpretation of a tongue to share it with the group (quoting St. Paul on the matter).
Not considering that I HAD that charism, I nonetheless DID understand a person speaking a tongue right next to me. It was one word, over and over, “Ite, Ite, Ite”.
I recognized it and shared it as the Latin word Ite. From the end of mass “Ite Missa Est” (Go the Mass is Over). Ite in English meant GO!
What does that mean? I was asked. I prefaced my answer with an “I don’t know …” for a moment. Then shared that perhaps it was simply GO! DO! Put the words, even of prayers, behind us and begin doing things in His power and with faith that something good would come from it.
