Try This, Not That

We\’ve all done things in our ministry when we\’d like to have a do-over! Here’s one of mine that you can learn from! This is my version of Try This, Not That!

As the newly called preschool minister for a church, I came in SO excited because VBS was due to start that very next week! Along with the excitement though, came some trepidation because I noticed that nothing, and I mean nothing, had been decorated yet! So, I left my husband and two young boys home on Saturday, and ran up to the church to get things done by myself.  (And, I might add, wondering what I was thinking when I agreed to come to this church!) I spent the entire afternoon taping blue butcher paper up and down the halls creating an underwater world.  I added fish, shells, waves and whatever I could think of to get those hallways ready!

The next morning, one of the preschool coordinators came in quite surprised! She didn\’t show nearly as much appreciation for all my hard work as I thought she should have. Nor did the building supervisor who was quite upset with me for putting tape (and it was a lot) all over the walls.  What I didn\’t know and hadn\’t taken the time to find out, was that the coordinators had a plan in place for the TEAM to come in that afternoon to decorate! This was something they had done on the Sunday afternoon prior to VBS for years and I had just stomped all over that plan.

I discovered at least two things that day:

1. If you’re new and there is a team in place, be sure to check with them before diving in to something.  They know what’s gone right and wrong in the past and can steer you away from hitting some of those rocks below as you dive! You\’ll show respect for them and gain their trust as well.
2. Always, ALWAYS check with the building supervisor before hanging anything on the walls.  I found that if I went to Mr. Ken and asked his advice on how best to hang something, he\’d usually tell me, I don\’t want you to hang anything on the walls, but if you’re going to, here’s the best way! We ended up having a fantastic relationship.  It always got just a little tense around Fall Festival, VBS and Christmas, but as long as I showed him that I valued what he did, we made it through the event!

So, let me encourage you to employ the gifts of those that God has placed around you and don\’t try to do it alone.  Show respect and gratitude for experience and don\’t be afraid to ask advice.  Not only will your job be easier, but you\’ll allow them to be a blessing in God’s kingdom as well.