Discouragement

We are supposed to encourage one another and love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. But often, the reality is more about discouragement between brothers and sisters than encouragement.

In church, if people do a good job at something, there is no encouragement from others. But if there is a small problem, people become critical and judgemental towards you. Why are we like that? Getting the congregation together to talk about how to improve the Sunday services through administrative tasks only results in expressions of personal opinions as opposed to finding a way to enhance our experience of God through worship. Noone talked about how we can be closer to God through worship. We just talked about insignificant things like how to better set out the bulletin. We did not even discussed how we can be drawn closer to God and glorify Him through worship, which should be the reason why we are at church on Sundays. We can say we would like this or that, but when it comes down to implementation, noone is willing to help. How can we change if we lack resources? Why do they even raise it in the first place if there is no solution? Why can't they understand that we lack resources and that I am doing the best I can with what I am given.

And how about parents trying to intervene with their children. If their children comes to me to talk about their problems, and as a mentor I try to spend time with them and talk to them, then don't blame me if they actually do something which is not what the parent wanted them to do. Ironically, in a lot of cases, I am only there as a listener, and try to direct them to think of the reasons why they do certain things. And in alot of cases, I am actually on the side of the parents rather than the kids. If the kids don't listen to me and go and do their own thing, why blame me? I've done the best I can. Ultimately its up to that person to make up their mind as to what they want to do. Why do the parents accuse me of swaying their kids away from them when in fact I am trying to do the opposite in most cases. Why can't the parents confront me about it, but instead they talk about me behind my back? Why can't they appreciate the fact that I spent my own personal time, often sleeping only four hours per night for the whole week, talking to their kids on the phone to help them in critical times, when their kids can't even talk to their parents about it. Why do they like to blame others where ultiamtely they should be the one who should be reflecting on why they were not able to communicate with their kids in the first place. It doesn't help if the kids are using me as an excuse to their parents to justify their own actions.

I actually don't mind people that try to do things and know their own limitations. I dispise people that try to tell the world they are doing everything, but in fact they have done nothing but talk. It is even more sad if all they want is power, and not willing to do anything. At least a woman with a baby knows her own limitations and enlists the help of others. What about the independent woman who tries to implement all these ideas and criticises others, but she doesn't even see that her incapacity in doing a simple task (such as teaching) is causing people to turn away from church. How can I work with this person, especially if I used to respect her in the past?

God, I am weak... let me see your glory and my own flaws instead of seeing the flaws of others... Amen