Everybody loves a good volunteer. You know the person I’m talking about—that one volunteer who is dependable, quick with a smile or to ask “What do you want me to do?”; the person who makes others’ jobs easier by their competence and good natured skills. Think of all the times you’ve relied on volunteers—people to help with a school project, to coordinate meals for someone in need, friends who help you pull together a surprise birthday party, or good souls willing to sell raffle tickets or staff a table at a neighborhood yard sale. The Rotarians always talk about “service above self,” and that is the motto of a good and faithful volunteer.
The author Liz Hauck suggests that there are four guiding principles for volunteering.
- Show up when you say you will show up.
- Know your one small task and do it the best you can.
- Be prepared to improvise, because inevitably something unforeseen will arise.
- Leave when you are supposed to leave and then come back again. There’s a lot of wisdom packed in those short statements: Be dependable. Do your best. Be flexible. And be steadfast—leaving when you are supposed to go, but returning when it is your turn to help again.
This last principle is, in many ways, the easiest and the hardest. Volunteerism requires setting boundaries and that is difficult for many of us. Some people hate to say “No,” so they end up saying “Yes” to too many things and getting burned out or frazzled along the way. Some people want to help, but only if they can help on their own terms. This can put them at odds with others who are also trying to help and can end up having them “do good badly.” Most commonly, people forget that too much help only promotes dependency. That is why it is just as important to leave when you’re supposed to leave as it is to show up when you’re supposed to arrive. This establishes relationships that have clear boundaries, balancing out appropriate care while encouraging appropriate self-sufficiency in the person being helped.
It is true that Christ calls us to step out of our comfort zones, to go the extra mile in helping those around us. But it is also important to be clear whose voice we
are heeding when we do acts of kindness and service. Christ’s voice is not the one whispering in your ear that you have to do more and more so as to earn God’s love and salvation. Christ’s voice is not the one saying you are generally unworthy but perhaps your volunteer work will prove your self-worthy. Christ’s voice is not the one suggesting that charity is a contest to be won, a way to gain the world’s favor.
Christ’s voice is the one saying “Come, walk beside me,” which leads us to find ways to walk alongside others. Sometimes this will mean offering a helping hand, sharing food and water, listening to those in pain, praying for one another. And in the same way, others beside us will extend kindnesses to us. No contests. No quid pro quo. Only a walk with Christ, sharing love and grace to those beside us as best we can. May the spirit of Christ guide you as you raise your hands to help or sign up to volunteer, for such is the ill of our loving, community-building God.
—Randy Bush