At one point while I was shuffling papers and crunching numbers today, it occurred to me that I was (*gasp*) enjoying myself. This task, I like it! The responsible, future-oriented part of me decided to sit up and take notice. This sort of thing, it sagely informed me, is called a preference. If you pay attention often enough, you'll find you have several of them... perhaps even many. Put them all together and you'll find Your Dream Job. (Who knew?)
So, to be filed away for use in the not-so-distant future: The parts of my job that I enjoy, both the specific and the abstract...
- Taking a list of course descriptions, an academic schedule and a whole folder's worth of previous e-mail correspondence and fashioning it into an appealing, airtight, academically sound semester abroad program that even I would take part in (and I am very picky about my international experiences).
- Actually using my knowledge of theological structures and jargon to put together a collaborative learning experience that meets very specific academic goals.
- Skillfully extracting precise visions and dreams from even the more recalcitrant of program planners, and blending them with opening times, geographic and financial considerations and the elusive elements of "flow" and "rhythm" and "feel," until I achieve just the right consistency (think "pureed squash soup"), and then making these folks realize that this pot of smooth, rich, simmering program goodness was their idea first.
- Writing a contract that is both delicious in its brevity and satisfying in its detailed thoroughness, like wrapping myself up in a blanket of solid legal precision and warm-fuzzy liability protection.
- Cutting creative corners to keep the substance of a program intact while squeezing it into a budget that's at least a size too small.
- Fitting all of the puzzle pieces together and feeling it click into place.
- Having the feeling that I am really growing into this.
- Finally reaching a place where instead of merely following rote protocol, I can give a project the old Jess flair.
Do you guys have these preferences too?
3 comments:
Based on what I know about your job these aren't tiny jobs--they are a large part of it! Maybe I don't know enough about your job.
Some of my job-related preferences:
~ getting to look a child in the eye (especially when they make eye contact back) and say "Child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever" in the context of the baptismal service
~ seeing the genuine concern on the children's faces when they come up for the children's sermon and see the "ouchie" on my head
~ doing puzzles with the little girl who comes with her mom to help put the bulletins together
~ sharing communion with a lovely, sweet, 99 year old woman who can't tell me what she had for lunch ten minutes ago, but when we say the Lord's prayer (and she can say it) and take communion, says "That was such a nice remembrance"
~ helping in the kitchen during a funeral lunch when that's what is needed
~ helping the group of ladies put together the newsletter and getting to hear what's really going on in the community/congregation
~ preaching a really awesome sermon that came from God because I had no clue what I was going to say less than 18 hours before I had to preach it on Easter morning
Wow, these are awesome. Those folks are lucky to have an amazing pastor who is so clearly called to do what's she doing, and who understands so well what ministry is and where it (often) happens. :-)
Should I be worried about the "ouchie" on your head? What happened? Are you OK?
Hmmm... theoretically these things *are* a large-ish part of my job, but somehow there are a million other little things that crop up in the course of a day that need to be considered or taken care of, and so I spend at least half of my time "taking care of business," which then allows me to turn to the more integral things.
For me too Jess...if my "preferences" took up as much time of my days as lots of the other things I do, life would seem easier.
As for the "ouchie," it's better, but check your email. The world doesn't need to know about it!
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