More Questions than Answers
A little more than a month ago I was in Chicago attending SobCon09, business school for bloggers. I learned so much that it made my head hurt. God used two people in particular (thanks again Jon & Chris) to help me figure some things out. Now I have more questions than answers, which is partly why I’ve taken a little bit of time away from blogging to digest. As a result, a more refined (at least slightly) direction seems to be taking shape. Here’s what that means:
It’s about ministry.
My speaking, my facilitation, my writing all ignite my passion when I’m able to use those gifts in ministry-related settings. When I can incorporate faith-based principles into content, when I can pray with groups about their direction and purpose and use Scripture to encourage people – those are the times when I’m most alive!
That may be all I know for sure at the moment.
It’s scary because the mere suggestion that I want to work with churches, ministry organizations and Christ followers who are business owners/business professionals has the potential to alienate me from a lot of great folks I’ve met and worked with in the last two years. Nonetheless, I know this is where I’m heading. My whole life has been moving towards this.
I still have a ton of questions like:
- What specific areas of work make the most sense for me?
- How do I balance my desire to serve with my desire to contribute to my family?
- With a finite amount of time available, how do I spend my time wisely in order to get the best possible return – from a kingdom perspective and from a financial perspective?
- What are the next steps I should be taking?
- How do I balance the need to plan and follow that plan, with the need to follow the voice of the One who said, “go to a land I will show you,”?
For now, it’s just one step at a time. Starting with this blog post.
What about you?
When has God called you to a new thing and how have you navigated that time in your life? In your business? In your ministry? (I really want to hear your feedback on this one!)
(Creative Commons graphic on Flickr by Purpleslog.)
June 15th, 2009 at 8:15 am
The expression about being able to do something “with one hand tied behind [one's] back” doesn’t mean they intend to, at least I hope not. A non-religious businessperson who purposely excludes religious networking doesn’t realize the extent of his self-handicap. Especially if it means excluding the likes of yourself and the network of friends and associates I’ve gotten an inkling of through Twitter, et al. I can’t afford to tie anything behind my back. Can you?
June 15th, 2009 at 8:30 am
My entire consulting practice is my version of being a “pastor”. But I need to be out where people actually live life–in the workplace. The context is theirs, the professional expertise is theirs, the calling is theirs. Instead of being the expert clergy trying to inform others of what God intends, I’m the attentive servant asking what people need in the way of resources and support.
As passionate as I am about this venture, I have not found a financial model that supports my family yet. This money “reality” of our culture can make the subsidized role of clergy seem attractive for all the wrong reasons.
How do we discern the difference between obstacles to be overcome on the way to the dream and clues that we need to adjust the form of the dream itself?
Great post. It is quite a challenge to build something new! Thanks for raising the topic.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I am continually amazed at how God has us connected. This time it’s by passions and similar journeys.
I recommend two things: one, read Walking With God by John Eldredge. Two, journal all your questions and the answers you receive as often as you can. I’ve been doing this over a year and it has kept me sane and grounded and helped me to manage what I know is an upcoming life change without jumping ahead too far and too fast. It’s kept me trusting and patient. Well mostly.
Know you’re in my prayers, ’cause you are.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:37 am
It’s taken me a while to formulate this but this morning, lying in bed, I had a long conversation with God. I am old school kind of person in a modern world and am often times frustrated when sitting in meetings and the people I’m in the meeting with are texting, blogging, tweeting…… It amazes me how disconnected we’ve become by becoming connected. I still write handwritten note cards, knowing that I could save countless time by using new e-cards. Our generation, society as a whole, communicate fast paced, right this second, with not only those they know, but also those they only know by “following”. I do think that God is pleased that we have new ways of communication – as long as we stay grounded and remember how important that those closest to us still need that human factor . . . To see the expression in ones eyes, the curl of ones lips as they smile, the crinkle around your eyes that shows amusement. I think your calling Cheryl, is to allow God to use all the tools we’ve been given to really communicate His love. Let people know everywhere what His gift is and utilize the advancements to do so. I think He is pleased to know that those far off places we’ve been challenged to reach in the past, we can now touch in a multitude of ways. My hope is that those that can, and are gifted as you are in this area, will.