Everyone loves a trimmed hedge.” I don’t know where I ever heard that, but it has been with me for a long time. And I don’t know if it makes sense to anyone in the world but me, but to me it says, “Not many folks want to get out in the heat and trim the hedge, but when someone takes the time and effort to do it well, everyone notices.” I’ve learned to really appreciate people who “trim hedges.” … the folks who plan and organize and motivate and work to cause things to happen.

Lots of folks have good ideas, but not many will act on those ideas. It’s a risk. You might fail. Someone might criticize you. While I’m right there, let me say something about criticism: I’ve always heard that the only way to avoid criticism was to do nothing. But that’s not true. You’ll get criticized for doing nothing! So, from the very outset, know that you are going to be criticized. You can’t avoid it. And much of it will be unfair. The one thing about criticism you can [somewhat] control is what you are criticized for. And I prefer to be criticized for doing something rather than doing nothing!

Paul knew something about criticism, didn’t he? Through it all, he was an encourager. He wrote the Galatian Christians - “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Lots of folks quit along the way. They never know the satisfaction of completing a really difficult task. I respect the folks who endure to the end.

Vacation Bible School was fun for everyone involved. But it involved dozens of people who donated hundreds and hundreds of hours of work. Watching how smoothly everything worked reminded me of the little duck swimming on the pond- so serene on the surface, but “paddling like sixty” underneath.

Thank you to this year’s directors- Quinn and Jenn Tolbert and Kendra Stegall. Thanks to Jennifer Watrous who coordinated all the incredible artwork, and all the ladies (and men) who worked for weeks in preparation. Thanks to those who provided meals and snacks… for the teachers, and the high school and college young people who worked with the skits. Thanks to Cory for emceeing. This was truly a coordinated effort from the whole church.

I’m in awe of the whole thing. We have some really talented people who use those talents to serve others (and consequently- the Lord).

And then, this week, there’s Family Camp! Another incredible event that requires lots of dreaming, planning and organizing.

I hope you are taking advantage of these efforts to strengthen our families and reach out to our community! I’m happy to be a member of a family of servants, aren’t you?

-Ken Stegall