As my wife and I recently attended Bill West’s 80th birthday party celebration, I walked through memory lane of old photos of Bill & Marilyn. One picture board that caught my attention was clippings of Bill’s involvement through the years in So. County. I honestly marveled at the level of commitment to community by the Wests. And, then I stopped and thought.
In almost every area except the Chamber of Commerce (thank you Ted Romas & your leadership), we have seen a severe demise in civic organizations. Even in our local fire departments, we don’t have the volunteers we used to and fewer have to shore up the calls, whenever they come.
Here we are talking, Elks, I.O.O.F. (Odd-Fellows), Masonic, Main St, Lions, and yes, even our own city councils. We have folks that would love to and have earned the right to move into retirement but there is no one to step-in so they can step-out. So they continue on, even into their 80’s.
Where it hurts me the most is in the faith community. I am a pastor.
While South Douglas County has never been a bastion of growing churches or the Bible belt, I have watched over a half a dozen churches close in my years here and there almost another half nearing the tipping point. No one seems to really care and believe me, the closing of any church SHOULD be a wake up call for any community. No town should be without an active faith community but that is exactly where we are heading.
The cause behind the loss of community involvement is so painful and yet so simple: The collapse of the traditional family. Without a dad, single mom’s have to work to make ends meet and there is no time but for homework, sleep and do er’ again. And now days, when a dad is involved in a family, and lets say he is employed full-time, any free time is consumed with sports, trips and electronics devices.
Sundays and Wednesday nights used to be hands-off by school and sports. There used to be a bit of reverence to the possibility that families (notice that word) might go to church together or Wednesday night prayer meetings. Those days are flat out gone. Sunday is just another workday or play day. Leave church for the old folks and grandkids. Why go to church? We have You Tube and iTunes instead.
Is it taking a toll on us? Hello!!! When we can’t muster enough folks to train and handle fire calls, what do we do then? Guess? Then the folks will complain about higher taxes. When there is no more elks or lions or odd-fellows or main st., who plans or coordinates the summer festivals or the 4th of July fireworks in Riddle? Are you getting the picture?
Churches used to be essential to a community. We simply took it for granted. It was a place a sinner could start over after making mistakes. Now we have serenity lane. The church used to be a place to get married. Folks generally don’t marry anymore, just co-habitat. Church used to be where young and old heard great life lessons like David & Goliath, Samson & Delilah, Noah & the Ark, now we go to the movie theaters and watch how Hollywood has re-written truth (the public education books started doing this a long time ago with history). And of course, church was once a family event where at least one day a week, you attended something together that brought you together. Remember this? The family that prays together stays together. Now, sports is the new religion. The same guy that used to say, Pastor, we will be gone for a few Sundays on vacation,” now says, “Pastor, you won’t see us until the fall,” and he’s not joking.
Traveling softball/baseball slides in to football camp, basketball camp, volleyball, and here we go again. It never stops and if it does, it’s replaced by other trips to the dunes, the lake, to the waterpark. If church gets anything of family today, its the leftovers where they slide in late and are on the run right the the last “Amen.” I’m not being too plain for you, am I?
And, how often have I heard, “I am a Christian but I don’t go to church” from the older crowd? That’s like saying I like hamburgers but not cheese, buns or tomatoes. Or I like cars but not oil changes or maintenance. Or, I like houses but not doors or windows. The same Book that tell you about Jesus tells you the church is His body. They go hand in glove folks. A bad experience or a bad pastor doesn’t mean you can bag the whole thing and everything is good.
So, South County, if we keep doing the same thing we can keep expecting the same results. Less community involvement means the demise of all of our civic organizations and churches. Sure, there will always be a remnant. A few diehards that stay the course. But one day when your mother or father passes or son or daughter decides to have a church wedding and you look for a large facility to have that service, don’t be surprised if the church that once held such activities is not longer here because the community checked out years ago.
And, if that fire call ever comes and they are a few minutes later than usual to your house because they couldn’t muster the folks to run the trucks or do the CPR, it will suddenly dawn on you that church, fire department or civic organizations don’t happen by accident. They worked through the years because of people like Bill & Marilyn West. Gosh, we need more of them.
