Well today is my birthday, and I am disappointed. Not about my birthday mind you, I am disappointed with our bishop. I have talked to our bishop several times about getting my wife released from the scouting program and all I am getting is the run around for a couple of months now. The reason for the release is for a couple of reasons one of which is her working schedule and health reasons. She had no idea what this calling entailed when she accepted it but we did let the bishopric know that we would give it a shot but that we were trying to start a home business and we were worried about the time issue and they said no problem if it becomes an issue just let them know…… There has been a few issues with this calling that were not made known. One other thing that you should know and I am no too proud to admit it is, we are and have been having money problems – I had racked up quite a bit of credit card debt before I became a member of the church and we now (like many of others) have more debt than money, any way I had gone to the bishop in the past about this so he also knows of our financial situation. Ok I am not explaining this to well so I will just copy a section of my wifes blog here – she may get mad about this but at least I am not putting a link to her blog here.
I’m one of those people that get picked for crap jobs at church. You know, the job that they can’t find anyone to do. They convince you to try it, but when things don’t work out they will ignore you or avoid you completely because they had no intention of ever letting you out of that said crap job (unless you move away or die). -Yes, my bishop does seem to go out of his way to avoid me ever since Ron told him that he didn’t want me in scouts anymore.
I don’t have any sons. A fact that the scout mothers point out to me often. I am tight on money and this calling eats money like an elephant. To be a ‘volunteer’ in scouts is a $70.00 application. The shirt you must wear cost $40.00 not to mention the patches and insignias that you purchase to sew on your new uniform shirt. The many training programs you must participate in cost $5.00 – $10.00 each. If you wish to purchase kits or other helpful scouting items…. pay up. And now they say that since I’m over 40, I must get a physical. (I have not done any of the above).
The cub scouts put out a program help guide that has a week by week and month by month activity and meeting suggestions. For instance, this month is “Adventure in Books” with activities like ‘make a book safe’ (you purchase old books at garage sales so you can cut holes in the pages), ‘illuminated letter’, ‘family scrapbook’ (with lightweight cardboard, loose-leaf metal rings, and scrapbook paper), and ‘bookends’ (needing wood, nails, hammer, craft paint, etc). Everything needs money. Lots and lots of money. Of course, the church does pay your $70.00 fee, and they will eventually pay you back for the materials you purchase (that’s if the primary presidents think scouts deserve any of their appointed moneys). But what part of the “I am on a budget and I cannot participate in the Scouting Money Hog Program” is my bishopric not getting?
This month we are having the raingutter regatta. They will provide materials for the boys. But they needed someone to make a model. I volunteered when no one else did. After all, they should have the materials. But as the volunteer, I had to purchase my own materials. I made my boat yesterday when I couldn’t get online to work on my job. (You know, the stuff that really needs to be done so that we can get paid?)
Today I had to choose between figuring out what to do with the cubbies for scouts or working on my job. My mother-in-law came by and took my batch because she wanted it completed for billing. So, now my real life had to bow down to my forced church service. Because every new member needs three things to be successful at church: a calling, a job, and to do service until you learn to love it.
(by the way, I worked on scouting stuff from 8am – 1pm)
So, you ask why I didn’t work on this stuff before? Before Wed of last week, I finished up and returned 3 different batches. On Thursday, I got a new batch and that evening went to the leader meeting where I found out I was on my own with my boat building. Friday I was sick (with what Christy and Ron had). Saturday we were at Kait’s baby shower and later I finished the laundry. Sunday was Sunday. And yesterday I couldn’t access my on-line program (or even check my e-mails).
I have had enough. There might be church people who just love to rush around moving, doing and serving at all costs to time, money and family…. But that’s not me. I wish the church people would quit trying to shove everyone into the same wrapper. I feel like a pet poodle being trained to jump through hoops for their pleasure.
