The Doughnut Club
Someone posted this on a house-church discussion board. Supposedly it's based on their actual experience. Whether that's the case or not, it's a great little parable.
- DC
The Doughnut Club
When I was a salesman for Porsche Motorcars, the dealership I worked for hosted, every Saturday morning, a "doughnut club". It was scheduled for 8AM (an hour before the dealership actually opened) and was simply held at the back of the showroom, using the service department's counter as a "buffet". Anyone who was interested was invited, and the get-together usually drew 10 or 12 people.
Among the participants were many rich and powerful people whose only common interest was their love for the Porsche cars. Some were car owners, some where multiple owners, some were prospective owners, but whatever their situation, it was clear that their zeal for this car motivated them to attend. Believe me, people of this import had much better things to do on a Saturday morning than eat doughnuts at a car dealership, but never the less, they came. It was clearly important to them.
Once in a while, one of the regulars would have to miss a gathering, and others would spend much time trying to learn why their friend wasn't there, and hoped he was all right. There grew a genuine caring for one-another. Much of their conversation centered on their lives, their careers, politics, the economy, and most of all... the Porsche.
They had such a great love for this "machine", that they spoke of it fondly and with much adoration. They wanted to understand it better, and learn more about its inner workings... its "mysteries". Their quest to know it better seemed to add some needed substance to their lives!
They became good friends, respected one another, and encouraged each other to learn more about their beloved machine. They shared ideas, resources, and knowledge. They showed great compassion for each other, and genuinely cared about their colleagues.
The group's activities began to carry on beyond those Saturday morning gatherings. They started golfing together, dining out together, and calling each other "friend". But with all their closeness, they kept their associations loose and casual. They rarely had any expectations of each other, and were satisfied to simply "know" each other. The group of friends considered this to be a "wonderful time in their lives".
Then it happened. One of the members of the group felt that with his organizational skills, he could take this little group of Porsche fans to new heights! He was a born leader, and found it easy to motivate the others to hear his ideas about a "new" and "better" way. He proposed organizing the group into a real "organization"... a "club" with a name, dues, a logo, memberships, bylaws, elected officials... well, you get the idea. He convinced them that it would improve and enhance their love for the Porsche. They could have sanctioned events, driving demonstrations, car shows, technical training sessions, lectures by prominent Porsche enthusiasts, etc.
He conveyed the picture of a grand organization that would gain much attention from the community, and would surely draw in more and more people. As their membership increased they could do more things for the community, and draw even more interest. They could eventually buy a building to hold all of their activities... which had the potential to draw even more dues paying members! With the proper management, this "club" could spread to other cities, and maybe even throughout the world!
Well, the little group bought into the idea and moved ahead with the grand plans. It was decided that the fellow with original idea would facilitate things, and be their leader until they could hold a proper election. As the weeks and months progressed, things were coming into order, and the club was beginning to look like the organization they envisioned. They were holding events, product knowledge training sessions, public demonstrations and shows, and they even created program to show Porsches to groups of school children so that they could witness the "uniqueness" of this awesome machine! The community was beginning to take notice of this group of fans, and many came to their meetings just see what it was all about. Membership was growing, and great amounts of money were coming in to the club's bank accounts. The plan was working!
Then it happened... again! Some of the original "doughnut club" attendees were starting to grumble about the management of the club. They weren't satisfied with how their monies were being spent, and how the "leaders" seemed to distance themselves from the rest of the membership. And they questioned the true motives of some of the newly acquired members. They seemed to be joining for the fun activities, and didn't really seem too interested in the founding group's "true love"... the Porsche. They seemed to come for the picnics, the social functions, and the "new model year" celebrations. It seemed like their hearts were more in love with the "club about the Porsche" than with the "Porsche" itself.
At the same time the club's expectations for the elder members was wearing them out. They had to head-up committees, lead training sessions, organize events, manage the building/property, and "be there" on a moment's notice to handle whatever needed done. The dues kept increasing because it clear how much more the club could do within the community. They wanted to reach out to those who wanted to know more about the fabled cars. Who were they to let "money" get in the way of "spreading the word"? So they gave what was asked of them.
The work required by the club became so difficult and demanding that several of the original group started asking themselves, "remember when we used to simply get together on Saturday mornings and talk because we loved the cars?"
"Remember how much fun it was?"
"And easy it was?"
Well, it wasn't too much longer before those elder members left the "club" and went back to getting together simply to be "with" each other... to be with those who's only motive to come together was to share with one another their "true love".
It was easy... simple... and most of all, satisfying!
- DC
The Doughnut Club
When I was a salesman for Porsche Motorcars, the dealership I worked for hosted, every Saturday morning, a "doughnut club". It was scheduled for 8AM (an hour before the dealership actually opened) and was simply held at the back of the showroom, using the service department's counter as a "buffet". Anyone who was interested was invited, and the get-together usually drew 10 or 12 people.
Among the participants were many rich and powerful people whose only common interest was their love for the Porsche cars. Some were car owners, some where multiple owners, some were prospective owners, but whatever their situation, it was clear that their zeal for this car motivated them to attend. Believe me, people of this import had much better things to do on a Saturday morning than eat doughnuts at a car dealership, but never the less, they came. It was clearly important to them.
Once in a while, one of the regulars would have to miss a gathering, and others would spend much time trying to learn why their friend wasn't there, and hoped he was all right. There grew a genuine caring for one-another. Much of their conversation centered on their lives, their careers, politics, the economy, and most of all... the Porsche.
They had such a great love for this "machine", that they spoke of it fondly and with much adoration. They wanted to understand it better, and learn more about its inner workings... its "mysteries". Their quest to know it better seemed to add some needed substance to their lives!
They became good friends, respected one another, and encouraged each other to learn more about their beloved machine. They shared ideas, resources, and knowledge. They showed great compassion for each other, and genuinely cared about their colleagues.
The group's activities began to carry on beyond those Saturday morning gatherings. They started golfing together, dining out together, and calling each other "friend". But with all their closeness, they kept their associations loose and casual. They rarely had any expectations of each other, and were satisfied to simply "know" each other. The group of friends considered this to be a "wonderful time in their lives".
Then it happened. One of the members of the group felt that with his organizational skills, he could take this little group of Porsche fans to new heights! He was a born leader, and found it easy to motivate the others to hear his ideas about a "new" and "better" way. He proposed organizing the group into a real "organization"... a "club" with a name, dues, a logo, memberships, bylaws, elected officials... well, you get the idea. He convinced them that it would improve and enhance their love for the Porsche. They could have sanctioned events, driving demonstrations, car shows, technical training sessions, lectures by prominent Porsche enthusiasts, etc.
He conveyed the picture of a grand organization that would gain much attention from the community, and would surely draw in more and more people. As their membership increased they could do more things for the community, and draw even more interest. They could eventually buy a building to hold all of their activities... which had the potential to draw even more dues paying members! With the proper management, this "club" could spread to other cities, and maybe even throughout the world!
Well, the little group bought into the idea and moved ahead with the grand plans. It was decided that the fellow with original idea would facilitate things, and be their leader until they could hold a proper election. As the weeks and months progressed, things were coming into order, and the club was beginning to look like the organization they envisioned. They were holding events, product knowledge training sessions, public demonstrations and shows, and they even created program to show Porsches to groups of school children so that they could witness the "uniqueness" of this awesome machine! The community was beginning to take notice of this group of fans, and many came to their meetings just see what it was all about. Membership was growing, and great amounts of money were coming in to the club's bank accounts. The plan was working!
Then it happened... again! Some of the original "doughnut club" attendees were starting to grumble about the management of the club. They weren't satisfied with how their monies were being spent, and how the "leaders" seemed to distance themselves from the rest of the membership. And they questioned the true motives of some of the newly acquired members. They seemed to be joining for the fun activities, and didn't really seem too interested in the founding group's "true love"... the Porsche. They seemed to come for the picnics, the social functions, and the "new model year" celebrations. It seemed like their hearts were more in love with the "club about the Porsche" than with the "Porsche" itself.
At the same time the club's expectations for the elder members was wearing them out. They had to head-up committees, lead training sessions, organize events, manage the building/property, and "be there" on a moment's notice to handle whatever needed done. The dues kept increasing because it clear how much more the club could do within the community. They wanted to reach out to those who wanted to know more about the fabled cars. Who were they to let "money" get in the way of "spreading the word"? So they gave what was asked of them.
The work required by the club became so difficult and demanding that several of the original group started asking themselves, "remember when we used to simply get together on Saturday mornings and talk because we loved the cars?"
"Remember how much fun it was?"
"And easy it was?"
Well, it wasn't too much longer before those elder members left the "club" and went back to getting together simply to be "with" each other... to be with those who's only motive to come together was to share with one another their "true love".
It was easy... simple... and most of all, satisfying!
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