Getting a Day Job

     I'm thankful for my "day job."  Since leaving our previous pastorate 2 1/2 months ago, I have had the responsibility of thinking about work in a different way again.  I worked hard as a pastor (and will again, when God opens the door).  I spent long hours in my office and also on "off hours."  I carried the burden of the ministry on my shoulders in a way that those outside of vocational ministry cannot understand.  My average work week was 50 hours or so and I took only one full day off each week.  I received a fair salary for my work and enjoyed my life.
     But now I'm in the "real" world of work.  I leave about 6:30 or 7 depending on whether I'm working an hour away or a half hour away.  I work hard (physically).  I get home about 10 hours later.  I have no time during the day to care for any business that needs accomplished.  I'm working during business hours and can't just take 15 minutes to care for something else.  I have Saturday to care for my home and so on.  I have evenings to socialize or do small projects if I wish, but by the time dinner is over, it's only three or 4 hours till bedtime, so going out; spending time with people; coming home; relaxing a little before bedtime; all these things just fill up the day.  Then there is the responsibility of "fitting" in some elements of service for the Lord.  And then, in the line of work that I'm involved in right now, there is the uncertainty of income.  If there's work; we work.  If not; I stay home and blog...
     Everyone who is reading this that is not a pastor is saying "welcome to my world."  I guess that's my (rather extended) point.  I'm grateful in a refreshed way for all those non-vocational servants of God who serve so faithfully for God after they've finished their 50+ hour work week.  I've always appreciated their sacrifice for the Lord, but I've been reminded again recently of just how much of a sacrifice it is. 
     So that's short and sweet, but part of my thanksgiving this year is for a job that God has provided and for his provision.  Another part is for all those people who make God central enough in their lives that they give time to serve the Lord in addition to all of their busy life.  Many of you reading are among them, and I want to honor your faithfulness as you serve the Lord who gives us so many reasons to be thankful this year.

Comments

  1. Julie Eaton ZentzNovember 20, 2012 at 9:54 AM

    I really appreciate this perspective coming from a Pastor. I've been on both ends of the spectrum (as a Pastor's wife and missionary wife) and then also as a single mom with 3 jobs. To think that someone in the church might opt out of singing in the choir or serving was unthinkable to me until I tried doing all of that while being stretched so thin! So thankful that you are seeing the perspective of people whose only time to accomplish anything personal is on the weekend or after an exhausting and long day of work. So thankful that God gives strength to the weary and sees the desires of our hearts. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David WilsonNovember 20, 2012 at 11:53 AM

      Julie, I'm glad God is kind enough to keep teaching and stretching us. Gratitude for those around us who are faithfully serving ought to be strongest from the leaders. Unfortunately we are sometimes the least understanding. Our kids are all in for Thanksgiving this year, so we will definitely enjoy it. Enjoy yours as well.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Time for another change

            My wife and I have just stepped into a transition time.  This past Sunday, after our morning worship service, I read my resignation to our church family.  While it was something that had been brewing in our hearts for some time and something which we are supremely confident that God wanted us to do, it is still very difficult to declare an end to a pastoral relationship with people whom you have served with and loved for almost 9 years.  In some ways; it is made more difficult for us since we do not know yet where we are going next.  We are simply convinced that God has said "start walking; I'll let you know when you get there."  A good friend of mine sent me this quote from Francis Chan and it means a lot to me right now: "God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doe...
Read more

Still Walking...

Image
     Those of you familiar with our situation right now know that we have purposely put ourselves in a position where we will be in trouble if God doesn't come through.  That's a rough quote from a statement made by Francis Chan that I got from a friend a few weeks ago.  I'm still mulling over those words and have found myself enlivened and refreshed by their challenge.  It's funny how we see things more often when we are consciously thinking about them.  I was reading this morning from 1 Kings 17 about Elijah the prophet of God.  He was singularly used of God in a dramatic way.  He prayed and it stopped raining...for 3 years.  He prayed again and it rained.  He prayed and God raised a young man from the dead.  God did some incredible things through Elijah.      This morning I read the account of the widow that Elijah stopped to visit in the little town of Zarephath.  You're probably familiar with...
Read more

God is Good

     A little over a week from today, we'll all sit around a table filled with more food than we probably should consume in a day to celebrate a national holiday designed to focus our attention on the goodness of God to us over the previous year.      I thought I'd spend the next couple of posts talking a little about thanksgiving; not the holiday, but the attitude.  Thanksgiving always begins with a foundation of some sort.  For many people, thankfulness is directly connected to possessions and provisions.  When I have enough to pay the bills and some left over to have some nice things; I am thankful.  If, on the other hand, I am struggling month to month or I seem to have less than someone else that I am observing, then my thankfulness drops and I begin to be frustrated with something that is missing from my life.      When I approach thanksgiving from a different vantage point, I start to understand something very i...
Read more