The Drop Out

 

Back to school.  Yes, once again the calendar has brought us to that time of year when we prepare our children and grandchildren to go back to school.  For most families, at least for many parents, this time is celebrated with shouts of glee.  The summer has been long and hot.  It may have been a challenge to keep children occupied and entertained when met with the frequent whine, “I’m bored”.

For working moms it can be especially challenging due to the new summer schedule of juggling childcare.  Instead of dropping children off to go merrily into the scheduled classes at school, children are dropped off at babysitters, day camps, and summer programs.  Sometimes children are entrusted to relatives and friends. Often children are left to their own devises at home.  So, when school bells ring and children bemoan the return to school with set schedules and assignments, many parents let out a sign of relief.

Summer can be a stressful time with added burdens to schedules and finances.  Then parents are thrown into a flurry of activity and hustle and bustle to scramble to get the just right clothing, uniforms, shoes, school supplies and backpacks.    

We do all this because we know the value of getting a good, solid education.  We realize to succeed a child must be able to read, do math and develop those reasoning skills for problem solving.  Our little ones must be trained in the 3 R’s and beyond.  They need to be trained socially, mentally, physically and be fit, ready and prepared to be a functioning, contributing force in our society.  This is a big challenge. It is a big assignment for all involved.  We want to equip them with the best tools for this challenge.  It is what a good, caring, concerned parent should do.

This is why it can be so devastating when children drop out of school.  Most states have requirements for children under 18 to encourage them to ‘be cool and stay in school’.  However, in spite of these incentives and encouragements, many children drop out of school before they are adequately prepared for life.  Facts clearly reveal that dropouts will have limited employment opportunities.  Dropouts usually end up with minimum wage employment and struggle in life just to survive.  Another type of dropout occurs when the child is still physically in school, but their mind and spirits have ‘left the building’.  They go through the motions, but heart and soul are not in the educational process. 

But there is another type of dropout. All of us are capable and may have experienced ‘dropout’.  Perhaps we have signed up for a class, an activity , a club, an organization, only to quit or drop shortly after signing up.  As I was pondering on this inspiration note, I realized that the term ‘dropout” is one of those unusual terms we use often in our society.  What does it mean?  Who does it describe?  Dropout is most commonly associated with school.  But also refers to: “someone who drops out of conventional society or one who abandons an attempt, activity or chosen path”.  This is the official definition according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

Dropout.  Most of us finished high school-some by the skin of our teeth and the hair on our chin-e-chin-chin.  We did it! We finished!  Some went on to college and secured yet another degree.  While others took one or two classes and then dropped out, gave up, abandoned the endeavor.  It could be for a variety of valid reasons.  But when it is all said and done…a dropout is a dropout.

Dropping out of something we signed up for can give us a twinge of regret and guilt.  We ask questions like, “what would my life and career be like if I had only finished that course, that degree, that training.” It is compared to leaving the battle before the victory.  Or like leaving the ballgame in the 7^th inning when it appears the home team is losing; only to find out the team recovered and had a big win in the 9^th inning. The big, “What If”.

The most tragic and disturbing incidents of dropout occur in the Kingdom of God.  Nothing is more gut wrenching and devastating than to hear news of someone who once fought a valiant fight, had a close relationship with God, but walked away.  It is a slippery slope, a dangerous, dark path to travel on.   Hebrews 10:31 reminds us: “it is a fearful thing to turn one’s back on God the Creator and Jesus His Son and deliberately and consciously reject their love.”

  But, it happens.  It happens more than we may think.  It happens right in the church.  Too often folks still physically come and warm a pew.  They show up for Sunday Morning service, only to go through the motions, counting down the minutes and seconds until they can flee from the Presence of God and His people.  Most know the lukewarm, backslidden state they have allowed to envelope them.  Others coast along, knowing something is not quite right, but keep going through the motions, to keep up the appearances.  But God knows.

A good example of this dropout condition and its dire consequences can be found in the book of

1 Samuel 15:22-23.

“But Samuel replied: (He was talking to King Saul)

Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
    as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
    and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
    and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
    he has rejected you as king.”

 

Saul got too big for his britches.  He let pride; self-assurance and self-importance slip in, creep in and slowly weave into the very fabric of his soul.  He no longer honored, respected or truly obeyed God.  He took matters into his own hands, thought he knew best.  Even in this passage of scripture he lied to the prophet, lied to God and in essence lied to himself.  God is not mocked.  Saul’s slippery slope led him to take his own life. His disobedience and rebellion resulted in his two sons being killed. Saul left a legacy of being the ‘Ultimate Drop Out.”  He will forever be remembered for his disobedience and arrogance.

 

So the lessons learned?  Think things through.  Before abandoning ship too soon, think about the challenges of the situation.  Weigh the consequences.  Stand and take the sure, steady pathway instead of caving in and pleasing the flesh.  Flesh is weak and wicked.  Flesh thinks and feels for the moment.  Flesh wars with the Spirit.  Flesh must be put in its place; conquered and mastered.  Flesh must die for Spirit to win.

 

Don’t be a drop out!  Stay and be a winner, a person who finishes what they start.  Be a person of integrity and honor.  There are eyes looking, watching and observing you as you run your race.  If you stubble, get up, shake yourself off.  Brush off the attitudes and mind sets of this world. Carry on. Run on.

 

 It is not a time to drop out, it is a time to run, run with diligence and run with all your might, power and strength.  As you cross the finish line, you will be met with a great roar of the many witnesses watching your race.  But the best reward will be the sound the voice of the Lord proclaiming the sweetest words you will ever hear, “Well done, my faithful child, enter into the Joy of the Lord!”