This is the time of year when many congregations have summer programs in the planning stages.  Upcoming Vacation Bible Schools, Gospel Meetings, and Lectureships will often bring out the conventional “sign-up” sheets asking for volunteers.  The sign-up sheet reminds me of when I was just starting high school, and I tried out for the color guard.  Like most school athletics, tryouts were followed by a period of anxious waiting and hoping that you had done enough to have your name put on that list which would be posted outside the doors saying you made the team.  There were times I wanted a certain spot on that list.  When I became an upper classman, I wanted to make the rifle line; then, I wanted to make the saber line; but, the possibility that I wouldn’t even make the flag line to hold a position on the team was simply unthinkable!

I’ve noticed an unfortunate trend in the dreaded “sign-up” sheet—they stay empty (or sparse) for weeks on end!  It can get depressing to see that empty sheet, wondering if it means no one wants to do anything.  Often I hear people talk about waiting to sign up because __________________.  Fill in the blank.  Some are afraid of taking a position that someone else wants.  Some think they take too many positions and want to let others who may not often participate do so.  Some, let’s be honest, are simply hoping that by delaying their trip to the sign-up sheet, the spots will all be filled up so they won’t feel guilty about not participating in an event they really didn’t want to be a part of anyway.  I’ll be the first to tell you I’ve been in all three positions, and I’m sure there are more which just aren’t coming to mind right now.

As “sign-up” season is upon us this year, I keep thinking about the zeal I felt in high school for making “the team.”  Wouldn’t it be great if we all had that zeal when it came to volunteering to help with a church activity?

In Isaiah 6:8, the Lord called for volunteers, “saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”  Who will sign up for this job?  Then Isaiah said, “Here am I!  Send me.”  Isaiah didn’t look around to see if someone else wanted this job.  He didn’t wait and see if someone else would step up and do it, for whatever reason.  There is no delay; by contrast, there is a sense of immediacy.  God says, ‘who will go?’ Isaiah says, ‘I will!  Oooh!  Oooh!  Let me!’  (Total paraphrase, but do you see it?  Do you feel it?)

Maybe you don’t feel comfortable with a spot as a teacher, or you’re not art-inclined, or every time you turn on an oven, the smoke alarm goes off.  The great thing about the sign-up sheet is that you can put your name anywhere on it that you want!  There is a way you can participate in whatever activity is coming up for your congregation.  If you’re not sure, go up to someone you know is overseeing the details and ask where you can help!  The important thing is to be part of “the team.”  Don’t you want to see your name on that list?

Imagine the whole congregation making a bee-line to that sign-up sheet after services to make sure they get their name on the list.  What a wonderful sight that would be!  I want to keep that zeal from my youth and channel some of Isaiah’s immediacy into my work for the Lord.  I hope you can find that zeal, too!

-Tricia Reno