Service that is more "free labor" than service

[Tacenda]

On 9/13/2024 at 1:14 PM, LoudmouthMormon said:

I've probably helped with 3-4 dozen service projects by now, and they're almost always good things full of fellowship and service and gratitude.  These are some of the exceptions: 

I once met an LDS guy who had been the Elder's Quorum President in Chicago.  He told me they had the motto "Anything you don't wanna do, the Elder's Quorum will do it FOR you!"  He said he had plenty stories, but didn't share any.

Many wards ago, there was a sister who was known for saying one of two things every Sunday at church.  The first was "My family has been in this ward longer than anyone else", and the second was "Where were you yesterday?  The EQP had a service project at my house, and we needed your tools!"

The elders and I once did a move for someone's son, who was getting kicked out of mom's house.   The son hadn't lifted a finger to pack a single thing, so mom provided us with trash bags.  He sat there on the couch next to the pizza boxes and sulked while we packed, giving glum one word answers to our questions about whether this or that should stay or go.   When it was time to move the couch, he gave a big dramatic sigh as if it was a huge burden to get himself off the couch so we could move it for him.  I was a bit worried about his mental state, and if we were picking on a disabled person or something.  I asked Mom about it, and she very frankly said no, there was nothing wrong with him, he's known this was coming for a long time, and had just chosen not to do anything about it.  After we drove him and his stuff to his new apartment complex, he said he forgot his key.  We asked him how he wanted us to proceed.  He said he didn't know (which had been something we had grown used to hearing from him during the move).   So we unloaded all of his stuff onto the grass and left him there, sitting on the couch, which was on the grass.   I started second guessing mom's statement.  Maybe she was uninformed or in denial about, I dunno, depression or something?  It didn't make sense.  Mom had a good head on her shoulders, and was employed dealing with disabled folks, I think think either as a nurse or a counselor of some kind.  *shrug*

 

I do think when I was active and helped with serving in certain callings that do a lot of that, that in the church we might be enabling at times. I almost worry that I might go down that road again if I start to minister or hold a calling such as in the Relief Society. When active, I helped many who might have been just fine helping themselves. I do miss the opportunities or say I miss them, but maybe I don't, come to think about it. But then again, maybe they did really need the help and I'm being a negative Nelly.

[Kenngo1969]

On 9/13/2024 at 1:28 PM, InCognitus said:

This isn't exactly what you are looking for, but it sort of fits....

When I was living in Arizona a monsoon storm came through one summer and knocked down a Palo Verde tree we had in our front yard.  A couple of ward members and three family members came over to help me clean up the mess.  As we were working on sawing up the tree branches, a guy drove by in a pickup truck and rolled down his window and said out his window to those who were helping me:  "You look like a good crew, I'll pay you double what he's paying you if you will come and work for me".   He had no takers on his offer!

Well, double of ... umm ... nothing ... is ...