Sometimes Serving God is Tough

I am one of those folks that want to always think the best of someone whenever possible, so why is this happening to me? Since becoming a Christian, I’ve always been taught that if we have talents we should use them to glorify the Lord. We should not hide them under a bushel; we should let our light shine and also our talents. If we let our light shine and use our talents in a way to glorify the Master it will be another way we can serve Him, our Lord and Savior.

For Vacation Bible School (VBS) this year I offered to shoot some video clips, edit, and deliver to our church staff in final form on a DVD so that it might be a better record of what our program was like for 2010 with the hope that it would be used to show our fellowship of how God used His resources to reach His little children in our area. I asked ahead of time of my pastor and music director to make sure I would not be stepping on someone else’s area of responsibility during VBS. All was agreeable. I had great joy in shooting the actual footage along with a few stills that were incorporated into the final effort. I had learned that Thursday night would be “Parents Night” and I was excited about all that I had been able to accomplish by long hours at my computer on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. My pastor took the time Thursday morning to view the DVD I had handed him. I was delighted when he made a special effort to thank me in the most sincere terms and praised me for my talents and efforts. My heart began to sing and as I thought of the computer glitches I had experienced the night before trying to get a copy burned. It was God and prayer that got me through. I praise God for His help and I still do.

I looked forward to Thursday night with great anticipation of how my efforts in the DVD would be perceived and prayed that those watching would feel the same as my sweet pastor and would find it to be a blessing. Thursday night arrived and the moment came when suddenly I realize that it was not my video that was about to be shown, but instead it would be just a power-point CD with a few pictures hastily collected, under exposed and out of focus showing a few of the preceding days at VBS that would be used. A young mother in our church had taken these pictures and declared herself to me on the first day as the “Expert”. She had informed me that she was a graphics designer and that it was her job as photographer and if anything was shown on Sunday, it would be her pictures that would be used and that my DVD might be used on Thursday evening. I was okay with that, I was not trying to take her “job” or be in any competition, I just wanted to share my talents of video since no one had offered or was doing that for our church. Now it was becoming clear, it would be her pictures that were being used both on Thursday evening and both worship services on Sunday. She had been exactly right and my efforts had been dismissed.

I have learned an invaluable lesson this week. Even though I had asked ahead of time, to avoid anyone’s feelings from being hurt and not to trample on someone else’s perceived importance, Satan is alive and well. And even though it was my pastor that was so pleased with my efforts, he did not make the final decision as to which CD or DVD would be used during parent’s night or our worship services. I would be untruthful if I told you I was not hurt, because I was hurt and sad and heart-sick. As I search for answers as to what it is that God is teaching me through this experience, I find I must be still and wait for His still small voice to speak to me. I ask why – why did she speak to me in a way to “steal my joy”? Why be hurtful, why break my spirit of just only wanting to serve? Oh Lord, forgive me should I have ever caused a brother or sister to stumble. Forgive me Lord for the times I may have flaunted my youth and made an older brother or sister feel less than they really were, when they were only aching to serve You. Maybe that is what You are teaching me after so long a time. May I look deep inside for my shortcomings and may I always look up to You for answers and understanding.

By the way, the video I made was shown in the nursery area on a flat screen T.V. The children’s director, whom I didn’t even know when VBS started, has told me many times over during the past few days how much she loved the DVD and is asking for additional copies. Again, thank you Lord for reminding me all things happens by Your hand and in Your time! Amen.