Editor’s Note: A Guest Post this afternoon from Caleb Wilde about what Parkesburg Point means to him. Consider dropping in on The Point’s Open House Monday evening beginning at 6:00 PM.
My name is Caleb Wilde. I’m the part-time associate director at the Parkesburg Point, and the admin of The Point’s website. I’m also the full-time sixth generation funeral director at the Wilde Funeral Home in Parkesburg.
Funeral directing is a business of brokenness, where we daily witness hearts that have been broken open by the rendering of death. There’s a toll that the funeral business takes on our own hearts as funeral directors. I’ve often said that it is first a ministry and secondarily a business … and if you neglect that prioritization, it will burn you out.
And yet, it seems, that burn out is nearly inevitable at times. Like all small businesses, there’s a sense of disorderliness to our business; but it’s worsened by the chaotic nature of death itself. We can be “quiet” for a couple days and then the floodgates open and our schedules are utterly packed, sapping us of our time and our energy.
This week is such a week. And I’m nearly burnt. Some people can brush death aside and be unaffected by it. I can’t. It takes its toll.
You’d think that in the busyness of weeks like this that the very LAST thing I’d want to do is walk a couple yards from the funeral home to The Point and work another couple hours with a bunch of screaming kids. You’d think that I’d find every possible excuse to put in my 9+ hours at the funeral and then just go home, bypassing the problems and issues of 70+ youth.
Honestly, I’ve never once felt that way. This place is a refuge for people like me who are close to brokenness and/or broken … who feel the weight of the world.
I’m writing this from the office that overlooks the entirety of The Point.
I can look down over the youth and point out three kids who have been sexually abused and raised above their oppressors.
Two girls who has attempted suicide and lived to find hope in Jesus.
Three young teenage girls who are parents and resiliently trying to raise their children and put themselves through a professional school.
Numerous kids who have been physically abused and have overcome.
And even more kids who come from a single parents home, where affirmation, encouragement and discipline is only half of what it could be.
The Point is a community of the broken. It’s where I belong. And I believe it’s where Jesus dwells.
Caleb, Keep up the good work. Thanx Dave
Caleb this is a wonderful thing you are doing for the community. I never heard of Parkesburg Point before. Any place where children are accepted and taught the word of God has to be a great place. I agree with Dave, keep up the good work!
Debbie
God bless you, Caleb, for doing His work! Obviously from the numbers you give, it is a much needed service that you are providing. May you, the staff and kids continue to reap the blessings through the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.