A Normal Day

So often times my young professional friends or people I meet without a background in the church ask me what I do during the week? They say, "How hard is your job? You just work on Sundays, right?"

Well, no. I work usually 6 days a week, sometimes if I'm lucky only five (like most people . . . well, those who don't work in a driven town like Washington).

As you might imagine: Sunday is my busiest day. In a program centered congregation like ours, there are days when I can work from 8 am-8 pm at night, especially during the school year. I am the first pastor in the building to unlock the church, I often teach or am in a supportive role for Sunday School, lead in worship, have a thousand conversations with congregants, attend and lead meetings in the afternoons, share in a dinner time conversation with somebody and teach an evening class. (My mental state on Mondays are usually reserved for what I call ministerial hangover after all of that).

But, the rest of the week is just as important.

Through the week, there are planning meetings of all sorts to attend and sometimes lead. There are visits to make at the beds of the sick. There are funerals to participate in (but not all the time). There are emails and more emails to answer. There are sermons and teaching sessions to prepare for. There are people to call. There are administrative needs to discuss. There are people who come to our door seeking help with physical needs like food and bill assistance. I met with persons who want to join the church. And, if I'm lucky, I have time for a lunch meeting with a colleague or a friend to keep me focused and encouraged.

Yet, no day is ever "normal."

Even though I try to plan to accomplish certain tasks on certain days, it almost never works out the way I would have planned it to. At a moment's notice I could be at the hospital or on the phone with a person wanting spiritual guidance.

But I don't want my job, no matter how religious it is, to sound overly spiritual. Yes, there are many moments of spiritual encounters through the day with people. But, there are many more things that I do which are like what other people experience in the business world.

I keep up with a budget and organize receipts.
I keep trying to keep my office clean with the clutter always coming back to find me...
I keep track of my calendar and plan for vacations.
I look forward to going home in the evenings and eating dinner with my husband.
I have bad days.
All just like anyone else. . .

Two of the reasons why I like this vocation is that I get to be present at so many important moments of individuals' lives and because really I never know what is next. The fun of the job comes as I drive to work-- really not knowing what I'm in for in the day ahead. Some days are more interesting than others. Some days I spend more time in front of my computer than others. Some days I spend talking to people more than others. But, all in all, I hope that with each day I can find joy being present with others and knowing that I did something that will last.