SHANGHAIED!

June 16, 2008

Thanks be to the dictionary that is free! (www.thefreedictionary.com)

Shanghai(ed) 2. To induce or compel (someone) to do something, especially by fraud or force: We were shanghaied into buying worthless securities. 

Me, I like the “compelled” definition!  My friend (and now co-conspirator) came to me with a “deal you can’t refuse…”, it goes a little something like this….  I, at one point had become the “trustee” of my church.  While honored at the title, I had accepted the position strictly to fill a void.  We (several church members and myself) were remodeling a 100 year old building to house offices for the Pastor and the Associate Pastor, plus provide small group space, meeting space, practice spa…. you get the picture.  My task was ring-leader (or scapegoat, depending on the day) and while leading this circus, I was dubbed “trustee”. After completing the project and reading up on what was the responsibilities of this title, spiced with a little politics, I realized, this ain’t me.  So I stepped down.  While this lifted about 2.2349 million pounds off my shoulders, I hated stepping down from a position within my church. While there are things about being within the leadership of a church that are sickening, I still liked being involved… Enter missions.

A few months ago… actually quite a few months ago, my wife and I volunteered to spend a Saturday morning working in a food kitchen.  We show up at 7:00, and dig directly into cooking.  Me, elbow deep into raw pork and venison sausage, my wife building little patties of my mixture.  Then, onto cooking scrambled eggs, flipping pancakes and preparing the renovated fast food restaurant for meal service.  From 8:00 to 9:30, we finish cooking and take turns serving at the food line, clean-up and go home without eating a bite, but being spiritually filled.  I was compelled…. I announced to the persons that run our “Glocal” (Global + Local) Missions that any time we come here, I will be here.  It felt GOOD!

Now, fast forward to yesterday.  I was informed that one of the leaders of “Glocal” had decided to step down and I was asked to join the leadership. SHANGHAIED! Playfully, I titled this page, “Shanghaied”, but in researching the meaning of the word, I was truly “shanghaied”.  I overwhelmingly am compelled to reach out to those who need it.  I ache to be involved with plotting the goodness that is required to perform such actions and I pray that I have a the personality motivate others.  I have been shanghaied, OH LORD have I…

 

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