1 Question Fridays: Is that a real job?

Ah yes, my most favorite question that I am asked at dinner parties or even around the church where I work, "Is that a real job?"  Which is inevitably followed up with "And that is a full-time position?"  To which people pause in disbelief and then ask while shaking their head, "What exactly did you study in college to do that?"

Let's start with what I am currently doing, and then get to the juicy details that all my friends in real life are so anxious awaiting.

Then.

I was a full-time high school youth minister for three years.  I ran the 9th-12th grade youth group.  We met on Sundays for two hours, plus during the week for Bible Study.  I also met once a week with the adult volunteers to play the Sunday events and retreats or trips.  Took the kids on several retreats and trips a year. Yes, lots of work.  Lots of coffee.  But after three years we had two staff members resign and thus God called me to the challenge of taking on both of them....

Now.

I wear two hats.  One is three-quarters time.  One is quarter-time.  Thus, a full-time job.  I three-quarters of my time am them middle school youth minister.  Doing as state above, but sans the direct contact with bible study...fewer trips, and less planning meetings.  My other quart-time job is preparing 180 10th grade students for their Confirmation.  This is a 10 week intensive program which includes retreats off site, and a LOT of paper work.

Soon to be.

I will be giving up my middle school hat.  This has been a year long discernment and prayer.  When Eric started his new job I felt I could finally answer the call to step down in surrender to God's will.  I will be able to continue on as an hourly-based employee leading the Confirmation program and then picking up a few little pieces as needed.  I'm at the mercy of the pastor's brainstorming and quick decision making. I am excited for this change of pace at the church.

In addition, I will be working part time for a friend who owns a landscape maintenance company.  I'll be helping him get organized (don't worry, I already asked, he said he doesn't mind pink polka dot binders and seasonally color coded spreadsheets) and doing some basic marketing.  I think this job will leave me more emotional available to serve at the Church than wearing two hats at the Church, and I get to dabble a little in some new fields and skill sets.

I feel like God is calling me to a new challenge.  I'm also learning incredible lessons in pride and humility as well as surrender.  I have no idea what the future holds, but I am trusting like Abraham that I am doing the will of God.