Wow!

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
Real service is what I desire.
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord,
But don’t ask me to sing in the choir.

I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord,
I like to see things come to pass,
But don’t ask me to teach boys and girls, dear Lord,
I’d rather just stay in my class.

I’ll do what you want me to do, dear Lord,
I yearn for the Church to thrive,
I’ll give you my nickels and dimes, dear Lord,
But please don’t ask me to tithe.

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
I’ll say what you want me to say,
I’m busy just now with myself, dear Lord,
I’ll help you some other day.

This anonymous poem titled “Blind Spots,” was borrowed from a publication of “The Decatur Christian,” and printed in a Sunday Bulletin for this congregation on December 3, 1944. It serves as a valuable reminder to those who believe spiritual apathy is a current development in the faith community. Spiritual laziness, of course, can afflict any person of faith. Furthermore, with two career families, single parent households, children, and school, the demands placed on time are great.

Too often, those who work in the faith community (both paid and volunteer) ask where others are who might have talent to contribute to a program or a project? While it is helpful to wish for others to be involved, it can be hurtful to question another person’s faith commitment on the basis of participation. For this can lead to the LCM syndrome. We all know people like this; some of the best of us fall into this behavior from time to time. LCM stands for Last Christian Martyr, and this flawed thinking leads certain folks to think the Church would fall apart if they stopped doing whatever they do. The truth is, before we came, someone did the work of the Church, and after we are gone someone will do the work of the Church. Not because of human nature, but because God’s nature is to call us into active relationship.

Rather than looking around and asking why certain people aren’t involved, perhaps a new question is in order. The question functions along the lines of, “Am I searching for spiritual values to live by and then living toward them; with others and especially with God?”