What’s going on, Mark?

July 3, 2007 by
Filed under: Life, Religion, Work 

Just an update to say “I’m still here” and let you all know what’s going on.

I had a great time at camp last weekend.  The weather was perfect (low to mid 70’s, dry, blue sky with fluffy clouds) as Carolyn and I helped check in 12 units full of kids.  That’s a light week for Camp Johnsonburg, undoubtedly due to the holiday.  I was trained to do the medical form coordinator’s job.  This is a relatively new job for check-in.  Jill, a friend and fellow former camp alumni, made it her purpose in life last summer to organize the medical form process.  This has resulted in a significant reduction in chaos and an increase in making sure that medical information (particularly received prescriptions) is right and that the campers are safe.  She is going to be away one Sunday in August so I’ve been trained to cover that week.  I’m also going to write up the procedure for the camp because right now it’s all in Jill’s head.  I might go up to camp immediately after church this Sunday – they’re bringing in 20 units next week and they’ll really need the help.

I’m working every day this week except Wednesday – no long weekends when Independence Day falls on a Wednesday.  I might get out a few hours early today if management is willing.

I’m undergoing a career questioning process.  My job is frankly not challenging right now and there are other reasons that it is getting increasingly uncomfortable (very few having to do with me or politics – it’s more of a “do I want to be here?” issue).  I’m wondering whether or not it’s time for a career change rather than a job change.
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At one point about a month ago I thought that the ministry might be a career for me, but I’ve since decided against it.  I think it was a fit of overenthusiasm for church-related things in general due to lots of things at happening with me and church.  In talking with others about this idea, the reaction has ranged from shock/surprise to “Are you sure?”  That’s not really a rousing sign that I should be considering such a career.  I really don’t think I have the right personality as an introverted technical thinker who happens to care deeply about people.  I’m really a behind-the-scenes kind of person.

So now I’m trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.  This might be a mid-life crisis (if you take my life expectancy at birth and divide by 2, you get something less than my age), or it might just be the start of a 2nd career.  Or maybe I’ll determine that I’m really supposed to be doing what I’m doing now.  I might even be at the right company.  Who knows.  What I do know is that when I work really hard at camp or at church it doesn’t feel like work.  That might be “a change is as good as a rest” or it might be my real vocation peeking out.  We’ll have to see.

And that’s the roundup for today.

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Comments

2 Comments on What’s going on, Mark?

  1. Gannet Girl on Wed, 4th Jul 2007 7:44 am

    2. Here are three really good questions asked of me over the course of a couple of years as I was involved in an active discernment process about ministry — not all in the form of questions, exactly.

    As you contemplate the life of Christ,where do you see parallels between what you do and what he does? Where is he doing things that are what you do or want to do?

    What about who you are — not what you do, but who you are, out of the context of your life — is what God wants?

    You are going to have to decide if what you want is to preach Christ Cruccified and Resurrected.

    And to the latter, especially to someone who describes himself as a “behind the scenes person,” I would add the reminder of Francis of Assisi: Preach always. Use words when necessary.

  2. Rev Kim on Wed, 4th Jul 2007 10:35 am

    3. I posted yesterday, but I think I didn’t actually hit “post” . . .

    Not to disagree with your sense of inner call, . . .

    But I am an off-the-charts introvert on my Myers-Briggs, so is my husband (also a pastor), as are many pastors in my presbytery. They are all excellent pastors and leaders. Being an introvert doesn’t mean that we can’t do or aren’t gifted at those more extroverted activities that are a part of ministry. It just means that after those things, we need solitude to be nourished and rejuvenated. And much of ministry is working behind the scenes, empowering people to discern their gifts and use them in the church, in the community, in their daily lives to the glory of God.

    You probably already know this, but the inquiry process in the PCUSA is just that – a time for the individual, the Session, the CPM, and the seminary to enter into a covenantal relationship whereby they discern together the person’s call to ministry. My sense of the CPM where you are is that they are very good at walking alongside people in this process. I went to seminary not knowing for sure if I was being called to ordained ministry or lay ministry. My pastor was very comforting, assuring me that if I got to seminary and felt it’s not what I was being called to do, that it would be okay. That gave me the freedom to truly discern while I was there, and it was there that my call was ultimately affirmed.

    I went to seminary just up the road from you! That you are so close is a gift – maybe talk to someone in admissions or vocations, check into auditing some courses.

    Sorry to be giving unsolicited advice! Blessings on your continued process of discernment.

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