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IDENTIFYING THE PLACES WHERE OPPORTUNITY IS HIDING
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1) Those grade eleven students will soon be running the world. Why not find a place where they can show what they can do right now?
2) Hostile and inactive husbands may be secretly feeling that they are missing something, or may be yearning to be on the inside of community. Why not invite them to make the coffee, join the Saturday morning repair team, or keep the handicap ramp shovelled.
3) Early retirees are aware of their shortening time horizon. If they get involved, they will be looking for programs with punch. They will want short time focus, clear objectives, visible results, and a sense of harmony with their most deeply felt values.
4) Lots of people with non-verbal skills would like to get involved, but are fearful of being asked to do things that require talking or being up front. In order to involve people, structure community that has lots of physical tasks that do not include talking. Value those roles that already exist within most church communities: Altar Guild, kitchen work, cleaning and straightening, bulletin production, mailings gardening, etc.
5) Sometimes mothers, before they enter the workforce, are looking for opportunities to regain their confidence and sharpen their social skills. This may provide a pool of able people for volunteer receptionists, dicta-typists, or administrators. Some are qualified people for part-time salaried work.
6) Life is not logical. Sometimes ideas that really do not make sense just take off. Try lots of programs and change course often to discover the illogical surprises.
Item XLI
©2002 Ronald C. Ferris
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