Jim Sheldon’s retirement – June 3, 2005
Lord of kids, Lord of families, Lord of the human community…
Through our work in the YMCA, you have set before huge tasks, immense challenges.
We pray for what we need to be faithful to that mission.
We need, Lord, people of vision and determination and tenacity and faith.
People like Jim.
We need leaders who can stride with one foot in the needs of the present and the other in the possibilities of the future.
People like Jim.
We need lots of folks who are driven by their concern that children get what they need to become fulfilled and productive adults.
People like Jim.
We need YMCA men and women who will tirelessly work to transcend the barriers between well-to-do and poor, between black and white, between city and suburb.
People like Jim.
We need leaders whose style is teamwork and cooperation, the building of alliances and the tearing down of fences.
People like Jim.
We need to be guided by those who always take this vocation seriously and purposefully, but who nonetheless manage to celebrate the joy and the fun in what we do.
People like Jim.
O Lord, you have challenged your YMCA with big visions, audacious goals, awesome responsibilities of the stewardship of this amazing movement.
Give us, we pray, what we never seem to have enough of.
People like Jim.
AMEN
-Bill Cameron
No comments:
Post a Comment