it's an illuuuuuusion...
i just got back from the northwoods christmas party (the church, not the mall). i was able to go since sarah's on staff there.
they had good food, a magician (very crappy jokes, but the tricks were good. just very drawn out. he was able to complete 5 tricks in a 7 hour time frame), awesome dessert and a ton of people.
but, i have to be honest and say that i still have a bad taste in my mouth from that church. i know it's a great church, and the people that go there are probably happy for it. but it was just some of the things that were said that rubbed me the wrong way. sometimes, the way people say just isn't what my experience there was like.
plus, the whole thing was called the northwoods leadership christmas party.
why does it have to have that word in there? 'leadership' sarah's not a "leader," yet she was invited. it's a STAFF christmas party. the staff needs the leaders, and the leaders need the staff. why do the big wigs with the bigger paychecks get all the recognition?
maybe it's just because i come from a corporate background where i feel the leadership is corrupt and full of themselves, but i am very skeptical of anywhere that puts that much emphasis on leadership.
have you noticed how many times i've said the word "leadership" here so far? it's 8. (in one form or another). and that's the point... it's drilled into you. you're brainwashed to think that if you're not a leader, you're a nobody. i speak for the corporate world as well as the church.
yet, after all the badmouthing and the sour faces i could make, i still felt like it was a waste of time.
the evening wasn't a waste of time. the awkwardness is.
there were people there i didn't care to talk to. and it was weird to make eye contact with certain tables.
and it just doesn't make sense. we are a means to the same end. i used to have a lot of laughs with people. people on the same team.
but we wasted tonight. tonight where we could have had more laughs and made more memories.
but such is life, i suppose. people come, people go. some people go but you still have to act cordial to them in public even though you really don't feel like it.
maybe someday it won't be that way.
i don't think it has to be.
they had good food, a magician (very crappy jokes, but the tricks were good. just very drawn out. he was able to complete 5 tricks in a 7 hour time frame), awesome dessert and a ton of people.
but, i have to be honest and say that i still have a bad taste in my mouth from that church. i know it's a great church, and the people that go there are probably happy for it. but it was just some of the things that were said that rubbed me the wrong way. sometimes, the way people say just isn't what my experience there was like.
plus, the whole thing was called the northwoods leadership christmas party.
why does it have to have that word in there? 'leadership' sarah's not a "leader," yet she was invited. it's a STAFF christmas party. the staff needs the leaders, and the leaders need the staff. why do the big wigs with the bigger paychecks get all the recognition?
maybe it's just because i come from a corporate background where i feel the leadership is corrupt and full of themselves, but i am very skeptical of anywhere that puts that much emphasis on leadership.
have you noticed how many times i've said the word "leadership" here so far? it's 8. (in one form or another). and that's the point... it's drilled into you. you're brainwashed to think that if you're not a leader, you're a nobody. i speak for the corporate world as well as the church.
yet, after all the badmouthing and the sour faces i could make, i still felt like it was a waste of time.
the evening wasn't a waste of time. the awkwardness is.
there were people there i didn't care to talk to. and it was weird to make eye contact with certain tables.
and it just doesn't make sense. we are a means to the same end. i used to have a lot of laughs with people. people on the same team.
but we wasted tonight. tonight where we could have had more laughs and made more memories.
but such is life, i suppose. people come, people go. some people go but you still have to act cordial to them in public even though you really don't feel like it.
maybe someday it won't be that way.
i don't think it has to be.
even though i am a staff member at a church I still consider myself a leader. i think it is wrong to say that staff are not leaders. we are. sarah leads volunteers right? does she not have mens/womens ministry leaders talking to/reporting to her? why cant you call them leaders? working in ministry you have to be some sort of leader, so i think it is sad to say that northwoods called this a leadership dinner for themselves, i do not see it that way and frankly think it's unfair to say so.
Posted by
Megan D. Crow |
December 11, 2006 11:20 PM
First of all you should know that the reason this party is called a "leadership" Christmas party is because the party is intended for not just the STAFF, but also the board of elders and directors as well. It wouldn't be fair to call it just a "STAFF" party when other leaders are included as well.
If you feel like you could have created more memories and laughter somewhere else then why did you attend the party? For the people that planned the evening for the staff and other leaders I think it's unfair for you to judge and call it a waste of time.
Next time just don't go.
Posted by
Anonymous |
December 13, 2006 4:03 PM
i don't know who megan was trying to defend... northwoods or me (or sarah?)
so i'll just quote dave here.
"Comments tend to invite unwanted opinions into the discussion."
as for erica's comment... i hope the new post clears things up.
Posted by
erichapman |
December 13, 2006 4:16 PM
Personally, I think should call it a "douche bag" party instead of leadership party, and for two reasons. One, it would really humble everyone there. And two, I just think that would be friggin' hilarious, albeit innapropriate, to call it that.
Hey, I hear ya though, my wife used to be on staff or leadership or whatever at Northwoods.
Hey...remember our small group? Both me and Dave are married to ex-Nwood staffers...and now you are gonna marry one yourself too. Weird...
Posted by
Anonymous |
December 19, 2006 10:33 PM