The Sacred and the Secular: The Workplace

As I mentioned in my last post, I was at school last week to learn to drive a school bus and that I had also been hired at Rockler, a woodworking store. It has been a while since I have worked in a secular workplace. Between college and seminary I have spent most of my work time in Christian institutions, whether it be the college or seminary and also churches. I was re-introduced to working in a secular environment in a big way, even going to school to learn to drive a school bus. I was re-introduced to swearing as a common language, and not something that is said in the heat of the moment. I was re-introduced to smoke breaks and the congregating that happens when a group of smokers gets together. I was re-introduced to what I consider the biggest challenge to me, and that is the lack of getting to know one another. While I asked others in the class about their past lives and what brought them to this point no one asked me why I was there. I am not one to just come out and say, "I am a pastor!" I need to be asked in order for me to share that information. At Rockler the atmosphere was different because most of the people who work there are on their second career or this is their second job.

Needless to say I was glad when Sunday came around and I could go to church. It was a break from that which I am not use to. I know the people at church and I am accepted there. People know my ambitions and desires. This is not necessarily true for me in the secular workplace. This got me to thinking, Is not the church supposed to be different then the secular workplace? Is church just treated as a "smoke break" something that happens one day a week and then it is back to work? Or is it something different; something where we all can gather to worship God to hear the Bible spoken, participate together at the font of baptism and at the Lord's Table? I feel more comfortable in church because that is my calling, to be a pastor; to bring together those who come to church and to bring them into full participation of the church. Heaven forbid that I ever treat church as a "smoke break" and instead treat it as the fellowship of all who come.

Time Flies

I cannot believe that March is already almost half over. It is only 2 weeks until Holy Week, 3 weeks until Easter! I have been pretty busy and that has caused my lack of writing.

I began March with a trip to Chicago to do my last class. Now I just have to graduate. Graduation is 2 months from the 18th. I had to leave a day early because of a bad snow storm here in the Cities, but I did get back on time.

That Tuesday I had a job interview at a school bus company to be a driver, so most of last week was reading the manual to get a Commercial Driver's License and taking the permit written tests. I passed 3 of 4 on the first try. Then this past Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I attended 20 hours of school bus driver training with the company. Then yesterday, Thursday I passed my last test and then had my drug test, so yes I now have a permit to drive a school bus. Today, I had my Department of Transportation physical. If all is well, I am just waiting for the drug test results and if I can not pass that then no one can, I can be doing my behind the wheel next week.

I also had another interview last Saturday with Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, a woodworking specialty store. I just got off the phone with the Minnetonka store and they have hired me, so I begin tomorrow morning at 8:30.

Last Sunday I had my debut with the Choir and that seemed to go well. I enjoy it and I really enjoy being back up front, maybe now they can move me to the pulpit! We are working hard on music for Holy Week. All I can say is that I wish that I had taken Latin in college or seminary! Oh, well, there is nothing like learning a "dead language" unless you are Catholic and then that is what they speak in heaven! Am I right?

There is nothing new as far as the call process goes. I am still waiting and calling those who I can.

So, as you can see, I have had a pretty busy month and there seems to be no let-up in sight, at least, for now.

I hope that all is well with all who read this blog. Forgive me, for my lack of writing. Don't be a stranger, just drop a note to say, "Hi!"