West Cocoa Chat

What a week it has been! Between Steven’s Fall Ball games, church, trying to meet with a drywall guy to repair some damage in our game room, and Parent Conferences last (Thursday) night, I need a break. Oh, I forgot that my good friend Chuck and I are going to lay laminate in the newly renovated offices of our Church Secretary and Minister tomorrow after school. It’s a good thing I’m a “young man.”

I had to miss Steven’s game against Titusville last (Thursday) night. Steven started at 2^nd again. He hit a double off the left-centerfield fence. He told me he could have had a triple but he thought it was going out. In baseball jargon we call that a “rut-row.” He also stole both 2^nd and 3^rd before scoring on a wild pickoff throw to 3^rd. While I’m being the proud Papa let me add that he closed out the game striking out all 3 batters. The best part of it all was watching Steven’s enjoyment and confidence grow as he talked about how our Head Coach told him to try out his glove when he went to the mound. It is a welcomed sight to see Steven being coached by a coach that believes in him. I could go on but on to my main subject.

In the past couple of weeks I have attempted to minister to folks who I’ll say have “special needs.” These special needs include mental illness, drug abuse, and for lack of a better phrase, limited mental capacity. To say that some of the behaviors I’ve dealt with have been somewhat bizarre at times would be an understatement. Some of these special needs have included an attempt to persuade individuals to “behave” in their small group as well as instructions on personal hygiene. All have been approached from a non-judgmental attitude. None of us are perfect and we all have areas that need suggestions and improvement.

Yet I’ve found myself being put in a position of acting as a surrogate parent for adults. It is not something that I relish nor do I wish to shrink from doing the right thing in the name of the Lord on behalf of the individual or our church. But I do have a question that I don’t know if there is an answer(s) for:

Is there ever a point at which the needs of folks with “special needs” outstrip the ability of those in ministry and church leadership? Is there a point at which folks in church leadership have to tell someone, “I’m sorry but I’m not qualified to help you.” As I think about our question I’m flooded with feelings of a “cop out.” One thing we are fortunate in is that we have a trained, licensed counselor that attends our church and is now currently engaged with some of these folks. As to the ones she isn’t helping, for the most part they have chosen to not accept our advice.

Isn’t that the fun part of ministry? You can spend hours with someone and in love, give them what you feel is the best advice to help them with their problem. Then you see all of those “hours” largely ignored as the individual seems locked into a pattern that has been established for years.

I guess I’m feeling a bit drained for more reasons than just my hectic schedule. Feel free to chime in and have a good weekend.

// posted by cwinwc @ 6:58 PM