I did not know that. No one told me. Why didn’t you say something? I have said all of these, and other versions of them. I hear about something, thinking it’s the first time anyone has ever talked about it when I was around, and want an answer. The thing is, I very likely was in the room when it was discussed, I just didn’t pay attention. If that is how I’m going to be, I think it becomes my responsibility to seek out information on my own.

Note: What is going to come next could possibly offend someone. I do not plan on pulling any punches, nor sugar coating it (I’m watching my sugar intake). I don’t know how many actually find my articles and read them, because I haven’t heard from more than a quarter of a handful. If they want to tell me, that is fine. I don’t want to seek them out because this is not a popularity contest for me. If you read this and are offended, my first thought would be to tell you, “Tough.” That might be too harsh, so if you believe I am wrong, tell me. End of note.

As the head and shoulders (someone else takes care of the knees and toes) of the media team at church, part of my job is to have the announcements projected on the screen and to send them out over the website. Being in charge of half the announcement methods (they are also in the bulletin and read each Sunday) I am irked when I hear someone say, “I didn’t know anything about that. Why wasn’t something said?” With just a few exceptions, it was, 4 times. I am of the opinion that if you don’t read/listen to one of the four methods, you don’t care. The three types of listeners (audio, visual, kinesthetic) are covered. If you aren’t going to pay attention, then, like me, it is your responsibility to seek it out.

On a similar plain of thought, there is also the nobody came to me so I ain’t gonna participate routine. I can speak to this, because I have used it. Looking back, I am ashamed that I thought I was important enough to warrant special treatment and ESP.

Several times in the past, I have heard some variant of, “Unless they come directly to me, I will not help.” I have two sides of the fence that I look from on this.

When I was Sunday School director, the books I read and meetings I went to always said to recruit face to face. Alright, I understand that. A personal invitation does feel better than a general invitation.

On the other hand, my stubborn, introverted, do it yourself and learn side prefers to issue a general invitation to see who is interested. If they are really wanting to help, I think they will put forth the effort to step forward. Then we can talk one on one.

As you have probably guessed, I don’t like hearing things like that. Who of us is special enough that we deserve to sit back and have people come bow before us to entreat us to do something? Especially if they don’t know we want to help, and are able to help. If someone at church needs help with their computer, how will they know to ask me if they don’t know that I am somewhat capable of helping them? How big of a jerk am I being by getting huffed up and refusing to help because I wasn’t asked personally? In my opinion, if I want to help, I need to go there and ask if I can. There have been times that I was capable of helping, was not asked, and was OK because I didn’t have the time to. Sadly, there are times that I got upset, too.

So if you are reading this, and are offended, made to think, whatever, don’t just sit there. Do something about it. If you see me doing something I just ranted about, call me on it. I’ve already said I’ve done it, I don’t want to keep doing it.

I think it can be summed up with one phrase, “Put up or shut up shush it!”