Sunday
I awoke early for what I hope will be the last time to attend meetings before church. For the last 9 months I have been attending early morning meetings each sunday. As the ward mission leader [didnt really function as one], i got to go to all the meetings to talk about the ward and what needed to be done. My purpose as far as I was able to tell, was to point out the obvious and then have it completely ignored. It was the highlight of my week.
As ward mission leader, I was trying to figure out, what I was supposed to be doing. I live in a single's ward, that be the pure definition of the ward, you couldnt be inactive and a member of the ward. It also being one of the 250 student wards in the area, you couldnt really be a member of the ward and not attending institute or a religion class at BYU. So the list of 15 names that never showed up to church I would point out this fact every meeting. I was never really listened too. I tried to become in contact with those names to no avail. Then there were the two baptisms of non-members into the ward last Fall semester, only to not really be involved in any of that process as a ward full of return missionaries feel they could do my initial responsibilty and then lay it on my lap when it got tough.
For the last year, I have felt under supported and as if I were talking and no one wanted to listen. At one point I had suggested names for missionaries to help in the calling, told that I would get them only to have them called else where.
Two months ago, I began to joke about just releasing me. No one took it seriously. I didnt even think it was serious. And then about three weeks ago, sitting in one of those early morning meetings, we were going thru the list of names of members of the ward. We ended up talking about ward missionaries, the fact that I had none. I was quickly proved wrong by them listing off 3 people whose calling it was. I asked them when they were called and why I wasnt made aware of them until then. I had been in the calling for 8 months and everytime i asked I was never told of these 3 individuals.
I came to a conclusion quickly thereafter. I was complacent in my calling. Yes I could do it. Yes I could serve in it. Yes I could deal with the inactives never willing to hold an appointment or wanting to talk. But the breaking point was the complacency on my part as well as the part of the ward leadership. I really needed to be doing something else. It was just a matter of convincing the bishop I was right.
It didnt take too much. I had an interview the Tuesday after I came to the conclusion I needed to be released. After asking the bishop to be released and explaining that I felt complacent in the call, he agreed that he would get it done. Only with my luck he was going on vacation for 2 weeks and would get to it until he got back. For two weeks I got to deal with the call some more.
Finally today, I was released only to be given a heads up on the fact that they had another calling for me. All I can think of is NO.
Comments
Yeah man fight the man dont let them pull you down into some laime calling
Posted by: Bob Dod | June 6, 2006 11:54 AM