I have decided I am a heathen at heart.Forgive me!

[CTYank]

I think in the future I need to spend a little more time in evaluating the situation before offering my help in anything but an emergency situation. Storm relief, my saw will always be ready for there is never time to access every person that may need some help. I know in my heart that when I spent two plus weeks in town after our tornado I was treated like a king, a rescuer, and a provider of relief. It was plain to see the look on everyone's faces when we fired our saws and removed the trees off their homes,It was pure gratitude.It warmed the heart, soothed the tired muscles, and fueled the desire to keep plugging on into the wee hours of the night.

There it is! It's called "triage" in other quarters. Someone with a brain and experience first evaluates who needs, and can best benefit from, your efforts the most. (Seems your beneficiary was very poorly chosen.)

It's a GOOD THING when administrator/beneficiary understands the physical and mental effort on your part working as a sawyer. Seems like both took a pass on your contribution, and your co-workers were clueless.

Even when you start work on such a project, you're not "married" to the "lady." When you decide you're done, for whatever reason, you're done- adios. And others free to step in and put it where their mouths are.

Hoping you lose the "bad taste" from this adventure, and find others who really need help. Pizza or no.

 

[TMFARM 2009]

personally i would go back.. i would take full advantage of painting the house, while at the same time telling everyone how lowsy a painter i am while tossing open cans of paint on to the roof to watch it run down, then while leaving i would be lmao...:msp_w00t:

 

[beerman6]

wait... 1 pizza for 4 people? :msp_thumbdn: That math dont work for my fat butt.

 

[unclemoustache]

wait... 1 pizza for 4 people? :msp_thumbdn: That math dont work for my fat butt.

It works just fine for me, and my butt isn't fat. There's your problem. izza::shock:


Avalancher, you're a heck of a guy, as I've said before. I also recall in a previous thread (a year or so ago) that you complained of ungrateful people when you helped them, and you said something about how you'll always eventually brush it off and continue to help people. That's the right attitude. You got hosed on this one by an extremely selfish woman, but I know you'll eventually shake it off and go back to helping people again, even when you know you're going to get hosed.

Here's one little bit of advice - my family has had many crazy adventures. We've done all kinds of stupid and dangerous things, individually and collectively, and have some real wild family stories to tell. It's a standing joke that if my father dies within 100 miles of me, I'm out of the will. :msp_ohmy: (He claims I tried to kill him on a number of occasions, one of which was a mountain hike where the Search and Rescue had to be called out!). However, in all our disaster/adventures, there's one quote we always bring up whenever we're in the midst of a crisis, and it's now our family motto:
"What is bitter to endure is sweet to remember."
That's one of the reasons I started a diary, so that when I get too old to work much, I can write out all my stories, and leave a legacy to my kids (or the general public if I'm good enough to get it published), and enjoy the memories of the times I got fired, broke bones, destroyed equipment, encountered idiots, got in car accidents, got arrested, started fires, encountered bears, ran from snakes, etc. etc.

Carry on, my friend, and I expect in October to have a good time by the campfire, sucking back our favorite drinks, and you can tell me a great story about the time you went with the church youth group to help this one woman, who turned out to be Satan in disguise! :msp_thumbup::msp_thumbup:

 

[unclemoustache]

Your words were not twisted, you were negative from the start. That is one lucky church group.

Wow. Poor guy can't see the forest for the trees. Your point is well made on him, Avalancher!
Reminds me of a stage tech I knew in college. While rehearsing a musical, the female dancers complained about tripping over a prop door on the stage, and they wanted it to be easier to walk on. The tech guy said there was nothing wrong with it, but the dancers said they kept tripping over it and wanted it smoother. So, to show them it was just fine, the tech walked on the door himself, tripped and nearly fell, and before I could burst out laughing, he said, "See! There's nothing wrong with it!"

 

[TMFARM 2009]

Carry on, my friend, and I expect in October to have a good time by the campfire, sucking back our favorite drinks, and you can tell me a great story about the time you went with the church youth group to help this one woman, who turned out to be Satan in disguise!

sorry thats untrue. she's not satan cause i married her... she was my first wife, she's still local to me so i know she isn't in Tennessee.... :hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange:

 

[A.S.Woodchucker]

She's probably the lady I see when my wife dags me to wally world, you know the one...she parks in a handicapped space and gets a buggy to ride around...and the funny part is...shes not handicapped, shes just FAT, and yet you see some older poeple (that should use the HC space) that park farther away just to get some exercise. Its the NEW way of the world, be as useles as you can and just blame everyone else for your problems. If someone asks for help I will be the first one on the job IF THEY REALLY NEED HELP!!! avalancher you went above and beyond.

 

[smokinj]

Your words were not twisted, you were negative from the start. That is one lucky church group.





Nope.

You?

If this was the case you would have let go a long time ago.......Guy work hard and thats about it...What esle is there? Well my church would say GOD helps those who help them? oh pizza common let the guy vent he earn that!

 

[TumblebugTaylor]

I know how you feel. The storms that hit SMithville MS is about 55 miles from here. I went with a friends church group as ours still didnt decide what to do. THey provided the truck and trailer and a dump truck. I supplied my skid steer and buckets and forks with grapple. We were doing several loads of brush an hour. THe state was poicking up debris so we just got it to the ROW. As we were working the folks inside were lending a bit of a hand and their neighbors were busting hump. Got about 1/4th of the way through and the livin man came in. He had a check seems that an anonamous person donated 150 000 to help out. About 1000 each damaged home. THose folks came out dressed to the 9's and left us mid clean up headed for the casino in tunica.

We loaded up and went across to the neighbors that were helping us and got theyr place cleaned up.

 

[Rigwelder]

avalancher i think what you did showed just how good a guy u must b. I personally would have left long before i ever found that tiller! I am all about helping the NEEDY!! but that is a term that is being used very freely these days! But being the optimist that i am i am glad that america is filling up with lazy butts!! I am not scared of a hard days work. or even a years work. Hell a lifetime seems like a good idea to me. The people that are on this forum will always have a job and food. We work for our money even if it is as little as it is sometimes. sorry gettin back on track. What you did was AWESOME. Not because you helped a women out that more than likely could have done it herself. But because you refrained from being the guy that quit the church group. And finished what you said you would do. And that is what america needs more of!!!

 

[poorboypaul]

It's obvious that people on here who can run up 15,000+ posts would rather sit on their ass and criticize everyone else for trying to help someone rather than getting off it and helping someone who needs it. I'll stand by every word I type on this thread. If you feel that church group is so great, go join them. Hope you don't have to rely on someone to help you in a time of need, because the pickin's are going to be reeeaaalll slim. Some of you can quote the bible all you want in her defense, but there's plenty more in the good book that goes against her. She was rude, crude, ignorant, thoughtless, greedy, insensitive, self-centered, etc, etc, etc. Add whatever 7 deadly sin you wish to add. Around these parts, if someone gives you a hand and helps out, you extend gratitude and do the same in return when they're in need. She needs mental health, not supporters for her lazy crutch. Yes, I have been in the wine.

 

[oppermancjo]

Wow... Quite the story going on here. I'd have to say that you're no heathen. Just another overworked, underpaid, over taxed, under appreciated, red blooded American.

 

[smokinj]

In the wine at 10:30AM?????? LOL!


Getting an early start for church tomorrow?

The Carney Clown Working the dunk Tank..........Nice!

 

[Hddnis]

She really doesn't have a connection to the church, our youth ministry coordinator happened past her house some time ago and saw her laying on the lawn, passed out.Some type of freak occurrence with a new prescription drug.She felt sorry for the old gal after talking with her, and regularly sends her husband over to mow her lawn and take care of odd things around the place.
What prompted the cleanup was her homeowners insurance expired, and she dropped them after the rates went up drastically, and the new insurance company sent a rep out to photograph the place and had a cow at the condition it was in.Ivy grown all over the siding, etc and refused to cover her until it was cleaned up.

I'm just going to come right out here and say that I've never known a ministry run by a woman that had any sort of good judgement about who to help and who to not help.

There is a point where we help people that don't deserve it and trust that we get a reward God and not man. But there comes a point where we are enabling bad behavior and are in fact hurting the person instead of helping them. I lean strongly towards the tough love side. My years as a cop made me pretty jaded in some respects, but I have never stopped helping others, partly for their sake and partly because it is the right thing to do.

If an old guy I know with a cane needs firewood I cut and split it for him, load it into a wheel barrow and park it next to his stool where he then stacks it. It is the only way he can really help in the process but he feels like he is helping and he holds his head up high at the end of the day. He can't afford to pay me in money, but he gave several old tools he has as a thank you, I didn't ask for them, but it shows his attitude is in the right place.

From what you describe, not only would I never help that "old" lady again, I'd never help that youth ministry again. They can find someone else to do enabling. You go find a widow that keeps her yard nice, working from the seat of her walker, and give her a few cords of wood, cut split, delivered and stacked. You'll feel so much better and I'll bet she brings you lemonade and cookies for your trouble.





Mr. HE

 

[freemind]

Hmm. I sense a dichotemy here.

Perhaps, UM, but I am not going to be walked on.

The good book teaches us about turning the other cheek, but doesn't profess about being foolish.

We are taught to sell our cloak to buy a sword, if we don't have one. We are taught to forgive our brothers 70x7. we are taughtto rebuke evil, not embrace it or foster it.

You see things your way, I see them mine. I don't fault you for it. I hope the same is returned in kind.

 

[poorboypaul]

In the wine at 10:30AM?????? LOL!


Getting an early start for church tomorrow?

I work nights, in cause ya be wonderin'. Thought about post time after.

 

[Currently]

Counter Karma

Hey Avalancher ... the balance is now equalized!

Went to do some more tornado cleanup today in Apison and helped this old gentleman who is an old dozer operator.

He lost his house ... I mean razed to the ground, lost his vehicles and everything he had 'cept this old D7 dozer.

Happiest guy I ever met, grateful for what he had, grateful for what we did for him and just blessed!

THAT is why I keep going back, keeps me centered and makes me realize I can lose everything in a few seconds.

When he burst into prayer, it was everything I could do to not start laughing ... his exuberence is incredible!

 

[angelo c]

Avalancher,
So far I gathered that:

you were the only "qualified" help on the site.
showed up with a plan and worked the plan.
were the only help on the site with "proper" tools (some might question the 372...hehe)
clearly the only person on the site with an understanding of the "value" of the time donated.
ended up feeling under appreciated given the circumstances.

sounds like you will have no future in seeking Government work....

my suggestion is to follow the Liberal thought process...just donate $50.00 and walk away( better yet ask someone else to for you). you would have been better off working that day and not had the remorse of wasting your time money and effort.

Best of Luck Brother, you are a good man and need no one else to confirm it for you.

 

[TMFARM 2009]

wow, do i hear an amen?
preach what ya will about this , but some people will never change...
i see too many church goer's do good deeds for the feel of it, not because its just plain needed..
i see no fault in the feelings avalancher has about this, you dont get to heaven by doing good deeds alone...heck i helped two people so much it put two of my business's out of business..
i will never say not to help some one, just be aware of who you are helping and how it will affect you in the long run...:angrysoapbox::angrysoapbox:

 

[unclemoustache]

i see too many church goer's do good deeds for the feel of it, not because its just plain needed.

Yes, I fear this is probably more true than many of us Christians will admit. The rich put their wads of cash in the temple treasury, but the poor widow put in two tiny coins and received praise from Jesus himself.


I got a nice story for you about a little adventure that happened to me today. Was on my way to install a double door for a fellow homeschooling family, and took a wrong turn. That alone was strange, especially considering I had my iphone map on my lap, and I knew what road I was supposed to take. I then saw a hitchiker on the road - tall, thin, scraggly, 6 inches of beard, but pulling a suitcase. I pulled over, (prepared a quick personal security measure), and picked him up. I asked him where he was headed, and he said "Wherever. I'm just looking for work." I told him about my door errand, and he asked if I needed any help. I told him no, but after we chatted a bit, I told him he could come along, get a cold drink from the customer, help out, make a few bucks and get some AC on this hot day. The customer was a neat guy and willing to have Frank help, even after I told him I picked him up on the road 5 minutes earlier. Frank was a good worker, knew what he was doing, and very helpful. He also knew when to be near me and when not to. He stood off at a distance while I first spoke with the customer about him, and did the same later when I was calculating the bill.
Anyway, I charged the customer $40, and gave half to Frank. The customer wanted to help too, and he also chipped in $20. Frank was very grateful, and tried to give me some back (since he made twice as much as I did on that job), but I insisted he keep it. He was again very thankful, and I asked him where I could drop him off, and we chatted a bit more as I drove there, and had a few very warm handshakes before he left. He told me he had been baptized a few weeks earlier, and I had told him a bit of my own faith experiences. After I dropped him off, I smiled all the way home, thinking about the good time we had, and I hope I get to see him again someday.

Maybe the next guy will take advantage of me, but it really makes it all worth it when you get a neat and grateful guy like Frank.
Hang in there, Ed. You're a great guy, and your next recipient just may be one of these: (Hebrews 13:1-2)