It is not at all lost on me that I have the amazing privilege of making this vocation my full-time work, of being at home among this particular part of the body of Christ, of developing and exploring my gifts in this place. Someone asked me this morning if I missed doing occupational therapy. The truth is that I miss my co-workers often, but I really haven't looked back as far as the work itself is concerned. It's an amazing gift to make being a pastor my full-time work--a gift that a year ago I wasn't even sure would ever be possible, much less now.
Driving up to church today and unlocking my office door, I was struck all over by the gift of it all. It was a small reminder of the emotions I felt on that very first day of work almost 5 months ago.
I think it hit me so profoundly today because I was coming back after a week of vacation last week. Stay-cation, as it were. I had a week to catch up with a few friends, but mostly to clean my house and cross some long-overdue items off of the to-do list. I had the luxury of sleeping in and taking life at a much slower pace.
It really wasn't glamorous, but it wasn't until I got home from church and took a step back that I realized that this is the first time I've truly had vacation in a really long time. The last few short stretches of vacation I've taken happened before I started working at the church--while I was still in the process of looking for work and wondering about the future.
The last time I was on vacation, I realized today, was one year ago this past July. And I came back from vacation to find out that the organization that I worked for was closing, and that I would soon be without a job.
So, today I'm profoundly grateful of the simple things. For a wonderful week that was truly restful and rejuvenating. For the stability of a job that is still there to come back to--a job that I love, among people who are now familiar and comfortable, whom I'm happy to see and reconnect with--most of whose names I even remember!
I met some people from your Church recently and of course I said that I knew you. They said that they just loved you, with big smiles on their faces :-) I had no doubts but thought you should know. Glad your short vacation was good
ReplyDeleteThanks! That's so kind!
DeleteThanks for sharing your gratitude and also your joy, Kathy. May you continue to feel blessed.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hardy!
DeleteSo happy for yoou, Kathy! It’s such a joy to work in the place where you know God has called you and where you feel you should be.
ReplyDeleteYes, it really is!
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