Yesterday a dear friend asked me a really good question. She wondered why I stay on staff. For me, it's a good question primarily because I don't often ask it of myself. I should ask it more. Because monitoring the state of one's call strikes me as something that's helpful to do on a regular basis (as opposed to something we do once every 4 years or so on staff). So, here are a few reasons why I stay on staff:
1. God's not done working in my soul yet. In a lot of ways, this has been a hard year for me in ministry. Lots of heartache. Believe me, I have my fair share of days when fleeing seems very tempting. But, after I take a breath, I realize that the ups and downs of ministry are shaping me. That is, ministry is about what I do, but it's also/more about how God is forming me. And, right now, it doesn't feel like he's done yet.
2. I have a sustaining passion for our mission. Don't get me wrong, my passion wanes from time to time, but, for the most part, I feel a continual burden for seeing (as IV's vision suggests) students transformed, campuses renewed and world changers developed. Yesterday I got to help a staff team think about their structures and strategies for next year, and I left deeply satisfied.
3. I work with great people. I have friends who tell me that the hardest part of their job are their co-workers. From time to time, that's true for me as well (if I'm honest--and you know who you are!!). But it's likewise true that consistently the best part of my job is my staff community. I work alongside people who spur on my faith, who are interested in who I am becoming, who care about my family and who are a whole lot of fun. I can't imagine working in a cubicle somewhere not knowing my neighbors.
4. It fits our life stage. If I wasn't on staff with its flexible work schedule, I don't know how I would coach soccer, chase a Masters or do the school pick-ups. I don't know how we would manage Amy's writing. Sure, I travel a lot, but a day like today, when I'm home and available, surely keeps me on staff.
5. I think I'm being prepared. Am I an IV lifer? Who knows?!? Maybe so, maybe not. I'm sure on staff long after I would have thought I would have left! But I have a sense that God is right now preparing me for more, whether that's in or out of IV. In other words, I'm not just stuck here. God is forming my character (#1) but he's also galvanizing my leadership in preparation for something different down the road. It feels great to be moving forward.
1 comment:
I liked reading this. I especially like your use of "galvanized" and I look forward to hearing how God continues His work in your life.
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