Nonconformist Chronicles

In and Out of Work

Well, I am out of work again--mostly. The job I had with the company who had the credit bureau contract has played out. I was not fired and I did not quit. The job simply ended. I'm still preaching most Sundays, but it remains to be seen whether this will become permanent. Both parties remain undecided as to whether this is indeed the best fit. So I guess that for now I am still available. I need a permanent living wage job sooner as opposed to later.

But the day job I had for the last six weeks was by no means a waste of time. Between that job and my part time preaching we've been able to just squeak by financially. Both jobs I've been doing have been much needed confidence builders--and you need all the confidence you can get when you've been through what I have and when you're going through what I am. The church where I've been preaching lately has been very complimentary of my ministry both in regard to my preaching and my people skills. All I need to be effective is a few folks who know how to encourage. 

But as for the other job, it's been a great refresher course on how "normal" people live. Here is what I dealt with on a week-to-week basis:

- Fighting morning traffic (One morning it was raining and it took me 25 minutes to go a quarter of a mile to get on the freeway ramp. I don't know what the holdup was, but traffic had come to a crawl). 

- Being tied up with an inflexible schedule 9 to 6 Monday through Friday. 

- Having to squeeze in most errands on Saturday morning before noon. 

- Punching a time clock and wearing a name badge. 

- Undergoing credit checks, criminal background checks, and drug testing (and BTW, I passed all with flying colors). 

- Looking forward to weekends, pizza and bagel days, and being able to wear jeans on casual Fridays. 

- Remembering what it's like to be a "worker bee" in the corporation while watching the middle management and recalling when I made about as much as some of them do. 

- Dealing with irate clients, while trying to focus on the majority who are pleasant and complimentary. 

- Being frustrated when the soda pop machine is sold out of Mountain Dew. 

- Having a limited amount of time to finish my lunch. 

- Wondering if I would accept a promotion, if offered, knowing it would mean more money, but far less time with my family (a moot point now, but I understand the struggle a lot better than I did in the past). 

- Rushing from work to get to my kids' events on time. 

- Overhearing ridiculous and uninformed conversation on religion and politics. 

- Trying to avoid the above conversations as well as all work place gossip. 

So there is a summation of my refresher course in the nine to five work-a-day world. I'm not opposed to returning to this world, but neither am I opposed to full time ministry, or even a bi-vocational situation. I'd even go back to school if necessary. We'll see what happens.        

Back In Circulation

I have returned from the longest break I've taken since I began blogging. I didn't really intend to take a break, but it just turned out that way. Each time I've returned after a long hiatus, I've said that I'm finally back for good. But over the past year and a half, it's been a challenge to keep at it.

Our family has been through some very difficult times over the last year and three months. It all came to a head when my job ended in April, which for the record, had nothing to do with any kind of immoral scandal or doctrinal heresy. Our family's income ended in mid-July. I was out of work a few months, but looking intently for a job. I've spent hours on the internet and in interviews. Our family has spent countless hours on the road in yet another job search. My absence from writing has had less to do with not having the time, but more to do with not having the heart. I just didn't know what to write about and it would be tempting to vent or to be vindictive. There are two reasons to avoid these temptations. First, is that what Jesus would do? Second, potential employers might have been googling me.   

I have a job now, but not in the ministry. In a roundabout way you might say I work for one of the national credit bureaus or more specifically a company that contracts with them. I help protect data breach victims from identity theft and credit fraud. I'm on the phone a lot, but this is not telemarketing. In fact, it has nothing to do with marketing or sales. I'm in a Dilbert-like cubicle all day with a computer and a telephone 40 hours a week. And you know what? I love it! 

I've got banker's hours, weekends off, I leave the job at the office, it's interesting, I get to help people, it's a good working eenvironment, and my supervisor is a wise leader. The only thing missing is a living wage although this does beat minimum wage considerably. 

I may eventually return to full time ministry. I'm currently preaching for another congregation on Sunday mornings. It's possible that this could become permanent. But neither party is in a huge hurry and both may be a bit gun-shy about rushing into a new commitment. So we'll get to know each other first. It's kind of like engagement while considering marriage.

I think a lot of ministers may need an occasional refresher course in the nine to five workaday world. It really gives us perspective as to what the average person deals with every day. When we're out of that loop for too long it may be that the issues we struggle through in our study are a far cry from the daily issues of real life. I sometimes wonder if bi-vocational isn't the way to go so we preachers can keep ourselves in wider circulation. 

Well, thanks for reading. Say a prayer for my family if you would. Our future is still very volatile (as with everybody, but not everybody knows it). We could potentially wind up short on funds while having this humongous mortgage. 

Anyway, thanks for reading and for not giving up on me. I'm getting stronger every day and I do intend to recommit to this blog and to reading the blogs of others.

Considering that over the past few years I have friends and fellow bloggers who've lost either a child, a marriage, or a portion of health, I don't consider myself to be so badly off. I only lost a job and that can be replaced.