You want to listen to my problems, right?
I’ve got a problem.
In January I made a pretty significant change in my life. I cut back my hours at work, with a corresponding pay cut, and started taking classes more seriously at Truett Seminary at Baylor. I decided to make this change for a few reasons. First off, I just needed a change, a change involving a move in a somewhat different career direction. Also, I figured this was a win-win situation. I would enjoy the classes, and I’d get to take them for free (since I work at Baylor). And in gaining a degree from Truett that would then open me up to either continue on for a Ph.D (somewhere else – not at Truett) or make a move towards something more ministry related. Realistically, I figured I’d do the Ph.D track, which would open up opportunities for me within my current career path and/or allow me to teach.
Sounds great, right?
Well, here’s the problem. I continue to feel a pull towards the church ministry track, which is just fine for most people, but this is a real problem for me. Let me count the ways:
Problem 1: I don’t go to a church, and haven’t in over seven years.
Problem 2: I have serious problems with church and “ministry.” In fact, I hate the word “ministry,” so much so that I’m putting it in quotes from here on out.
Problem 3: I also have issues with getting paid to do something called “ministry.”
Problem 4: I have no desire to work in a traditional church setting, and I don’t feel much better about other church-related organizations.
Problem 5: Sometimes I think the church is completely irrelevant and on its way toward a painfully slow death (see recent post here).
Problem 6: Sometimes I think Christianity might be on that same path toward death.
Problem 7: In spite of all this, I still feel a pull toward the church, and some kind of “ministry” (yes, I really do hate that word).
Problem 8: Did I mention that I don’t actually go to church?
I guess I’ll stop there, though I’m sure I could come up with a number of additional problems (problems involving money and time and family and career and faith and church and so on and so forth).
So there it is.
A prize will be awarded to the person who solves my life problems.
