work on...

I was reminded recently of how no matter what our occupation (or to Christianize it…calling) is, there are similarities in all that we do…and differences as well. In fact, I was talking to a friend who’s been with the same job for over twenty-five years!

Wow, I started reminiscing over my own occupational journey and I realized I had quite a variety of “jobs”. In the pastoring world I’ve been a children’s pastor, worship pastor, home group pastor, family ministries pastor, and executive pastor. In the educational world I’ve been an elementary teacher, a middle school and high school teacher, and a principal. In the publishing world I’ve been a magazine editor, contributing editor, copy editor, ghost writer, and publisher. And that doesn’t include my part-time or summer jobs as a short-order cook, camp counselor, furniture salesperson, interior designer, and painter…no wonder I want to become the Walmart welcome man!

So where am I going with all this? Who knows…no, really, I do have a point, only if I could just remember…just kidding. My point is, I realized that no matter what we do, or how long we do it, it’s important for us to be people of integrity no matter what we do.

We get different messages from folks and culture telling us to do what it takes to get where you want to go, get with away with doing as little as possible, don’t worry about who you hurt as you move up, there’s no such thing as loyalty anymore…and the list goes on.

So, what’s my challenge to each of us? Whether we’ve been with a job forever or we experience a variety of jobs, let’s be folks of integrity—doing our best, wisely using our time, and modeling to those around us what it means to be a hard worker.

I like how a guy named Paul said it in the Bible…”In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.”

and then...

As I've contemplated over how I should begin this "blog voyage" I was reminded of how so many stories are told and retold...and then all of a sudden the emotions or voice of the story teller changes and they say, "and then....."

And it's always the same but different.

"And then such and such happened...."

"And then so and so appeared..."

"And then..."

"And then..."

I was once again reminded today that our lives are seemingly tied together by the "and thens..." We're going along and then (there it is) something happens. An event, a chance meeting, a job change, gas prices, taxes, children, neighbors, an experience...we can go on and on...but it's always the same with a slight change...and then...

So, perhaps one small challenge that I hope to accomplish through this meaningless to some/meaningful to others blog is a glimpse into some of the "and thens" that I've experienced over life and hopefully will still experience until old age, prescribed drugs, or death will bring an abrupt halt to all "and thens".

Parenthetically, for those of us who call ourselves Christ-followers, at the point of death our "and thens" will collectively join together in quite an endless experience of "and thens." With the prior sentence, you assume correctly that one of my "and thens" was an encounter with Jesus Christ of whom I have been following for quite some time.

So, thanks for taking the time to read this. And I hope that after you do, you consider the "and thens" that draw your life together...and dream about the "and thens" that are yet to come.

I've gone to the dark side...

Well, I finally did it...I took the plunge into the world of blogging...what am I thinking?