A few days back, I signed up as a volunteer to chaperone kids around the ages of six to eighteen to watch a Magic / Illusion show as a Christmas event in December. The kids are from Melrose Place, under the Children’s Aid Society. Somehow my company is involved and asking for ten volunteers to help out. Volunteers will be given time off from work and transport will be provided.
From my experience in the education industry, it is really frustrating to take care of kids as they run amok all over, and it takes lots of energy to keep up with them. I wonder if I still have the energy, being out of the industry for so long now? In any case, it is a good thing to do, so I have no qualms helping out.
The thing is, when the person in charge sent out the email asking for volunteers, people have a choice whether to read the mail or not, to help out or not. If one does not wish to help, so be it. Why must people get on the high horse and start preaching, especially about religious issues? This colleague actually sent out a mail to everyone, saying how she is not in favour of this activity as magic is considered the dark arts, it symbolizes Satan and the devil and even quoted the particular scripture from the Bible on how it is a sin to deal with magic.
Must anyone go to that extent? As far as anyone else is concerned, it is just to make the kids happy, as these kids come from single, dysfunctional or broken homes, thus need the extra care. To me, making kids happy and doing a good deed far outweigh any possibility of being cast to hell due to involvement in the dark arts. In any case, it is just a show, not that I am doing it myself.
True, there should be respect and tolerance between religions, but where do we draw the line? Do we get so sensitive about every little issue, or misquote the scriptures or think everything is satanic? As a believer, and one who is quite familiar with the Bible, I know I have been doing a lot of things that are not within biblical teachings. It is fine, I am prepared to go to Hell anyway.
I am not saying volunteering to help in something meaningful is doing a noble thing (although it is). I believe anyone will help out. It is just one day, bring the kids there and back, ensure they are alright and just look out for them. The smiles and gratitude on the kids’ faces are priceless!
So, despite freedom of speech, why must people then kick up a fuss if the kids can be happy and enjoy themselves for once, and see something which their parents will probably never bring them to? Besides this is Christmas! What better way to spread the spirit and joy of Christmas than to make others happy in the process? It is the season of love, so what better way to spread love than give love?
From my experience in the education industry, it is really frustrating to take care of kids as they run amok all over, and it takes lots of energy to keep up with them. I wonder if I still have the energy, being out of the industry for so long now? In any case, it is a good thing to do, so I have no qualms helping out.
The thing is, when the person in charge sent out the email asking for volunteers, people have a choice whether to read the mail or not, to help out or not. If one does not wish to help, so be it. Why must people get on the high horse and start preaching, especially about religious issues? This colleague actually sent out a mail to everyone, saying how she is not in favour of this activity as magic is considered the dark arts, it symbolizes Satan and the devil and even quoted the particular scripture from the Bible on how it is a sin to deal with magic.
Must anyone go to that extent? As far as anyone else is concerned, it is just to make the kids happy, as these kids come from single, dysfunctional or broken homes, thus need the extra care. To me, making kids happy and doing a good deed far outweigh any possibility of being cast to hell due to involvement in the dark arts. In any case, it is just a show, not that I am doing it myself.
True, there should be respect and tolerance between religions, but where do we draw the line? Do we get so sensitive about every little issue, or misquote the scriptures or think everything is satanic? As a believer, and one who is quite familiar with the Bible, I know I have been doing a lot of things that are not within biblical teachings. It is fine, I am prepared to go to Hell anyway.
I am not saying volunteering to help in something meaningful is doing a noble thing (although it is). I believe anyone will help out. It is just one day, bring the kids there and back, ensure they are alright and just look out for them. The smiles and gratitude on the kids’ faces are priceless!
So, despite freedom of speech, why must people then kick up a fuss if the kids can be happy and enjoy themselves for once, and see something which their parents will probably never bring them to? Besides this is Christmas! What better way to spread the spirit and joy of Christmas than to make others happy in the process? It is the season of love, so what better way to spread love than give love?
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