Ticking Boxes

Sometimes I get very irritated when I consider people are simply ticking boxes rather than treating an issue seriously. It happened recently when, as chairman of our Safer Neighbourhood ward panel, I walked our ward with representatives of the Police and Local Authority. Every time the police or myself pointed out a problem, the solution offered seemed to be appearing to do something without actually providing a serious answer. For instance, cutting back foliage, clearing graffiti and cleaning half an alleyway but leaving the other half because it was in a different ward.

The same thing occurred when Margaret and I attended a Community Crime Fighters conference on the Southbank. The Police spent a fortune entertaining us and lots of very senior officers talked a great deal of jargon down to us but no one actually wanted to listen to the grass roots delegates. A pity, because all those that I spoke to knew the problems and simple solutions for dealing with them. The last thing anyone wanted was more high flying strategies and initiatives but no doubt the right boxes were ticked for disseminating information and rallying the troops.

I am sure that every reader can think of similar situations. So it came as rather a shock when, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I could be just as guilty of box ticking. Never more so than at this time of year. As I am writing, the Summer lull is ending and all the usual Church activities and organisations are starting up for another year. It has been so good to be free of responsibilities during the Summer break and to see new things and places. I confess that I find it hard to motivate myself and get back into harness. It would be so easy to just go through the motions, tick the boxes and appear to be involved whilst not giving of my best.

I assume that I am not alone in struggling to pick up the pace and that others amongst my readers will feel the same. I do not presume to give others the answer on how to overcome such ennui and can only speak for myself. My answer is to turn once again to the life of Christ.

On a number of occasions during his ministry he became exhausted and went off alone or with a small party of close friends. When he returned, there was never any reluctance on his part to continue his ministry. Yet no one was more aware than he was of the demands placed upon him, the burden that he carried and the ultimate conclusion. If the Lord that we follow could accept so much for us, then we can at least be enthusiastic about serving him.

Lastly, ticking boxes is not always a bad thing .Particularly if the motive is to show a logical progression in a situation. That was exactly what God was doing as, during the life and death of Christ, the earlier prophesies were one by one fulfilled. The whole story makes clear that there are no short cuts, no easy routes. If we are ever to achieve God’s Kingdom on Earth, then the way is through hard work, dedication and self sacrifice. Not when we want it but whenever it is required.