|
It doesn't seem like a big deal, does it? To receive an award or certificate for "Perfect Attendance" is met with a sort of "ho-hum" attitude by those who receive it as well as the audience that is enduring the two hour academic awards ceremony. It has been seen to be such a benign award that many of the students don't even bother to show up for it. Isn't that the irony of ironies?
Even the presentation of the awards put it last. This is not to fault those who make the presentations, but that's kind of that way we look at it, isn't it. It goes something like this, "Next is Billy Bob Jones. He receives the UIL award for 1st Place in debate, #1 place in Algebra in his class, Art Award, Science Award, Top 5% in his class and Perfect Attendance. I suppose, if we're honest, it probably makes sense to list Perfect Attendance after the Science award. But how important is "showing up" every day for class?
It must mean something that a student gets up every single day to be present for class. It is significant, isn't it, that this past year's candidate for Valedictorian also had the honor of having a perfect attendance record from Kindergarten through 12th grade! Showing up each day ready to learn was an important element to her success.
Some want to tell me that "attendance" at church services is not a measure of faithfulness. Though that may be true, it does give an indication of one's priorities, doesn't it? It says something about loyalty, commitment, dedication and service. If all of that is true and worthy of mention in school, shouldn't it count for something in our relationship towards God and one another?
It's always a great encouragement to me as a minister to see the example of elderly saints, who, even in with arthritis and aches and pains, make the effort to be accounted for on the Lord's Day. And what about those single mothers, and parents, who get up extra early to make sure their children, are dressed and here for Bible class and worship. It is important to their Christian growth, devotion and fellowship to be present and accounted for as well.
Attendance; It may very well be a measure of our devotion to God. It may not be that we'll receive an award for "Perfect Attendance," but I believe God does take notice of where we spend our time and what we spend it on and with whom.
"We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming".--Hebrews 10:25
I hope to see you in church on Sunday…present and accounted for!
Tom Nuckels |