One of my duties as school counselor in that final year before retirement was to deal with the discipline issues of some of the primary students. To that end I made it a habit of stopping in some of their classrooms and just hanging around. Sometimes I got caught up in what the teacher had assigned and assisted her in her plan.

It was a second grade class I was visiting that morning when I had a brainstorm. The students were in varying measures engaged in the creating of a written report. I stepped to the front of the class and announced,

“All my leaders, you will get to come to the front and share your papers with the whole class.” My intention was to motivate students to get engaged if they were not, and to hurry along those who were in slow gear.

“So, who are my leaders?” Six hands went up. Not bad. At least six people would be moving on. But I had forgotten a key point about the make-up of a second grader. They are all things to all men. You need leaders, I’m a leader. Their hands just go up automatically. I could have asked for shoplifters, carpenters, or artillery men and gotten the same response. The hand was waved to get attention and approval.

In this particular half a dozen, I noted that only one was actually doing work. Most of the rest had nothing on their paper at all, nor did my enticement change that fact.

I began thinking of the climate of the church today. Lots of opportunities to go here and go there, and a lot of folks answering the calls. “Send me, Lord!” The common denominator in 90% of these dearly beloved is that they are “so excited.” They will tell you that as they make their plans and raise their money. “We are just so excited!” Makes you think of the second graders. So excited to be called to leadership, but…

The excitement does not always remain. The service of the Lord is compared at least 3 times in Scripture to a man taking honey into his mouth, then having a bitter stomach afterwards. Jesus’ warnings about the cross and persecution and rejection are oft forgotten and/or ignored. Those who are the most empty and hollow will fold when the trouble comes.

Nevertheless the Lord is not finished with us after one fold! Or many, I think! True to His nature, He does not destroy a broken reed or discard a smoking flax. Aren’t you glad?