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Are You Ready To Be an Oarsman?

By Bill Keating

Texas Home School Coalition REVIEW © May 2000

“I want to serve, but now is not a good time.”  Possibly you have heard these words.  Probably you have spoken these words.

Were you in need of medical care, these words would be unthinkable, possibly a sentence of death.  The same is true about a volunteer group.  Without the lifeblood of people willing to serve the body, the support group dies.  With its death, all of the support functions you have enjoyed also die.  The question then becomes: Have you given as much to your support group as you have received?  If you have not, reconsider your attitude.  Giving is an uplifting experience and a worthy use of one’s time.  Our Lord Jesus extolled the virtue in giving and serving when He washed the disciple’s feet.

There are many people in these groups who have served either in board positions or those most necessary and often thankless jobs of coordinating individual activities; however, many more have never even helped with anything.  In all organizations, there has usually been an 80/20 ratio of takers to givers.  In today’s world, those ratios have shrunk to nearer to 90/10.  Nowhere is that more evident than in volunteer organizations such as local support groups.  However, they have no paid staff, no paid volunteers, and even the volunteers pay the same fees as everyone else to participate in group activities.  So the only rewards must come from a sense of a job well done or a “thank-you” given by an individual member.

Now, granted, there will always be some in these groups who will never give.  This is unfortunate but true.  There are also those in these groups who have given in years past and some too new to home schooling to need any other additional responsibilities.  This article is not directed at you.  However, for those of you who say or think, “I’m too busy to serve,” hope is that you will take this article to heart.

If you are too busy because of other activities to give back to a group which has provided for your needs, I humbly submit that you have two choices: return some energy or leave the group.  This is not to say that the truly needy should consider this an indictment—but can you honestly look in the mirror and claim to be truly needy?  For most of us, “too busy” is the convenience of not making choices to give rather that to forgo the pleasure of being served.  In which category do you fall?

A volunteer group is similar to one of those multi-man crew boats we see in the Olympic competitions.  They can only get to their goal if all six oarsmen pull in unison.  If several oars are left unpulled and those people  ride … well, you get the picture.  There is only one person who does not row, the coxswain, and his job is to coordinate the pull and the pace - a different but necessary function.

Most support groups need a lot more oarsmen.  Are you ready to row but cannot decide which oar to pick up?  Do you have an interest in strengthening your left hand?  Pick up an oar on the left.  (Perhaps something you are uncomfortable with but need to learn to do?)  Do you want to use your strength to its full advantage?  Pick up that oar which is your current strength.  (Volunteer for a job with which you feel comfortable.)  These are large boats with many oars.  In fact, there are probably extra seats if you have a special calling that your group needs.  They may also have training and beginner oars—plenty for all.

Probably no one but you and God will ever know if you never volunteer for a single job or position with your support group, but if you have enjoyed your group for a year or two or more, it is time to give back.  It is time to serve others who are coming behind you and will now be the new home schooler that you once were.  Take your pulse to see if your servant’s heart is sick or dying—then volunteer for the perfect cure.

Think of all the great experiences, growth, friends, and fellowship you will miss if you are “too busy.”  Realize how important it is to be fully involved in a few organizations and not peripherally involved in a great number of organizations.

This decision is about choices—does your support group live or die from lack of volunteers?  The choice and the decision are in your hands.  If your support group is worth your membership, it is worth your service.  Your membership fee does not fulfill that duty—only you and your time can.  As you enjoy the summer, prayerfully consider whether to rejoin. Count the cost and consider service as a part of that cost.

Bill Keating and his wife Kristy homeschooled their two sons through graduation. They have served in leadership at the  local, regional, and the state level. Bill has served on the THSC board for many years.

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