Unfinished Business

The title of this blog should have been "We're DONE!"

But it's not.

We didn't finish.  

Dan told us all we'd cut off on Friday at 2 so that we could start to pack and load the vans.  But at 2, only four or five of our crew stopped.  

We had decided to add flooring and paint to the Lydia Cottage at the last minute!  And those two crews were slammin' and slappin' like crazy people.  

The doors which had been removed - each weighing a little under 200 pounds each - took nearly all day to re-install... with teens standing at the ready to begin painting as soon as the door crew (Richard, Trevor, Andy and Tom) gave them permission.  Except missing hardware and painted over labels gave these guys fits and what seemed to be another two hour job turned into six and 1/2 hours.  

The fireplace room ran out of wood and a quick design change was made but there just weren't enough hours is Friday to make it happen.

I have to tell you that a gloom came over me.  In case you didn't know, I am Martha.  I'm not like Martha.  I'm don't have Martha characteristics.  It's quite possible that my personal lineage descends from Martha and that I embody everything about her.  On a good day, I can get a taste of Mary... but it's Martha all the way for me, friend.  Leaving with unfinished business just rubbed me every which way.  It physically hurt.  

Even as I watched us desperately trying to finish, I heard Patsy say to Kelly H. (Super Program Director) "It seems like we got a lot of stuff started but not very much done, Kelly.  I'm sorry."

And you know what he said?  I didn't hear it at the time because my Martha brain was only focused on what we had not gotten accomplished that week.  But Patsy came and told me later.

He smiled and said: "Good.  Because that means you'll have to come back."

Finally at ten after 5, Dan says we must stop.  Andy (Site Guy Marvelous) pulled out that white board that he'd shown our leaders when we first arrived.  You remember?  The one upon which he and Kelly had literally thrown everything they had "hoped" for?  As we sat exhausted on the Parker porch (which still needs work, I might add) Andy showed us that board.  He'd been marking things off as we'd accomplished them.  There were only six things (of perhaps 40) that were not marked off.  A cheer went through the crowd.  Andy got choked up.  

The thing is, Cherokee Retreat Center and Camp has largely been unsupported for many years. Sure we donate our cast-offs, we send a check, we have a few committees that do a weekend here and there.  But that's like sitting in the ocean and seeing if you can raise the water level! It takes an oil tanker to do that!

We left CRC with unfinished business.  So some of us are going back.  But I can guarantee you that we'll leave again with unfinished business.  Because there is so much that needs to be done.

Our greatest commandment is to love our neighbor.  For many of us, that means a passport, an international flight, disease fighting shots, foreign soil and lots of money.  But here's our neighbor:  CRC, Kelly, Jean and the kids, Andy, your children who will go to camp, my children who will go to camp, church staff who use this place for retreat, God-seekers who will come to learn what it means to be in relationship with Jesus, wives who will tear away for a scrapbooking weekend, husbands who will continue to grow in faith.  And making a trip to Cartersville is an easy thing to do.

We are a large and wealthy Presbytery and we do many great and good things.  Next time you think about ways that you can help, think about CRC and whether or not you have loved this neighbor well.

Shortly, I'll post a slide show somewhere and try to remember to let everyone know where.  You can also get to a link with multiple photos by visiting CRC's website.  (Click here.)

Becky Jordan (aka:  Martha)

Blogging for the FPCSBCRCM08

(First Presbyterian Church Spring Break Cherokee Retreat Center Mission 08)