Monday, September 30, 2013

Why I love my job

Forbes recently produced an article listing the ten happiest jobs with clergy rating #1. 
You should be able to find Forbes' list at this address: www.forbes.com


I don't know what factored into creating this list and since being a pastor is the only full-time "grown-up" job I've had, I have little to which I can compare it.  However, I can easily see why it would rate high on the happiness scale.

I have often thought, especially in the rural congregation I served: If I didn't have those pesky student & car loans, I wouldn't need to be paid to do what I do; I could just live in the parsonage (a house belonging to the church), eat the delicious fruits, vegetables, and sometimes meat that my parishioners delight in growing and sharing - in addition, of course, to the potlucks we frequently share.  But there is the whole issue of retirement savings and health-care and the desire to buy cute shoes and Starbucks coffee.  First-world issues, of course, but that is the world in which I live.

Though I'm unsure why Forbes thinks it's so happy, the following is what I love about my job.  I want to put this in writing when I'm feeling positive and grateful so I can look back on my list when I'm feeling down and grumpy (could be tomorrow).

 1.  God is gracious, merciful, healing, creative, surprising, playful, and just -- and through Jesus (as well as a whole bunch of other ways) God makes this known to the world.  It is my job to tell stories about this loving and very much alive God in weekly preaching and worship and in small groups, retreats, Bible-studies, forums, meetings, one-on-ones, summer camp, etc.  Doing that is an instant upper.  I mean: I don't always feel super-happy when preparing sermons or leading Bible-studies or sitting in meetings.  I'm often tired or distracted and I get annoyed by strange passages and narrow interpretations of the Bible; I also get disappointed by cranky and controlling people.  But if I even get to utter it once a day in one form or another (God loves you or, more simply, you are loved), I am the one who is blessed.  Every sermon I preach is first preached to myself. 

2.  People invite me to share in their lives in remarkable and intimate ways.  I am honored to share in the joy, blessing and celebration of a birth, baptism, graduation, and wedding; often, because of my role, I'm not only invited to attend such an occasion, but also to help form the ritual and ceremony in a way that reflects the values of the people involved and connects their story to God's story.  Perhaps the even greater honor is to be invited into people's lives during hard times - the break-up of a relationship (though, honestly, I don't receive as many invitations on this one), the loss of a job or death of a loved one, illness, grief, uncertainty about the future, and depression.  Those are enormous and profound experiences, and to walk through them with someone or a family is meaningful and holy work.

While those may be the two best things about my call, I will mention a couple other great things that contribute to my work-place happiness.

3. I have great colleagues! I have wondered at times if I chose to become a pastor at a subconscious level just so I could hang out with pastors.  When I mentioned this out loud to colleagues, they suggested I see a mental health professional.  I have always loved and looked up to my pastors from childhood, adolescence, college, young-adulthood, and then soon enough (actually,it  took a very long time) I became a pastor and I still look up to those pastors from my past as well as the many new ones in my life, all of whom I am blessed to call colleagues.

4. I get to study, have a flexible schedule, and work in a coffee shop.  Reading, writing, and meeting with people in a cafe or pub is a legitimate part of this job.  Frequently, I have multiple meetings in one day at Panera Bread, or I end up at three different coffee shops for different meetings.  While I was waiting for my first call, I worked as a barista at a Starbucks in Seattle and I was excited about it just because I loved coffee shops (plus I was grateful for health-insurance for part-time employees).  What a blessing that I now can pursue what I love most and still work in a coffee shop (and yet not hurt my ear-drums by making eggnog lattes for 8 hours in a row).

There are many other reasons why this is a great gig, but I'll leave it at this short list for now.  I doubt the future-church can sustain many more full-time clergy as congregations continue to get smaller and re-invent themselves.  Seminaries are now encouraging students to consider ways of being bi-vocational.  I'm sure that whatever the body of Christ comes up with as new forms for ministry will be creative and exciting, but I also am glad that I have enjoyed this extreme privilege of being a community's pastor - and I am especially grateful for the congregations that made it possible by extending a call to me: Zion Lutheran in Ferndale, WA, and St. Mark Lutheran in Glastonbury, CT.  Thank you!

 "Stand up, take your mat & walk" is one summary of the God-story which I seek to both convey and embody through my life and daily profession.  Just over ten years ago, I had set out to Berkeley, CA to pursue studies at PLTS (Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary) for the purpose of preparation for ordained ministry.  That move was the next step (after completing an M.Div. at the University of Chicago) in the adventure which led me to Washington state for internship and my first call, followed by a cross-country move to Connecticut two years ago for my second call. I have now been a pastor for almost seven years.  Every day since then, I have been grateful for the privilege - indeed, an adventure! - of sharing God's love-story with people who are eager to enter it and reflect it outward, and to be invited into the lives and stories of my parishioners.  And most days, I can honestly say I love what I do.