Catching up

 

So…how do you catch up on a year’s worth of life?

Maybe you don’t. But since jumping back into the old blog last night, I’ve been contemplating the question. Final decision: Just do it. (Thank you to whatever advertising genius came up with that line.)

And maybe I’ll just do a little catching up with each post. First detail: I’ve changed jobs/careers, and am now working at a place where I’m forced (really, that’s not too strong a word for it) to take an hour for lunch every day. Since it takes me about 15 minutes to eat, guess what I now have time to do between noon and one?

So, for friends who remember me, let’s pretend we’re sitting down over a cup of coffee and get started gabbing. Here’s the scoop: After working for 13 years for a large, affluent, white church in the suburbs, last August I took a job with a church-affiliated social service agency in the urban core of Kansas City. Not only had I had it up to HERE (picture the height of last year’s solar eclipse) with serving the white and privileged, but the leadership in our congregation had gotten so god-awful I simply couldn’t take it any more. My self-confidence had been so shattered by having every my idea shot down by the “man in charge” that I was almost surprised when the new place snapped me up within a week of my sending my resume.

And now, here I am downtown every day, Volunteer Coordinator for an organization that serves marginalized populations. Most of my work is a step removed from the actual service, but I contribute heavily to keeping the machine working. And just often enough I do get to personally serve the folks we exist here to serve. I’m learning new skills, too – have been trying my hand at grant writing, and have brought in over $50,000 to the organization in the 5 1/2 months I’ve been here.

It’s not perfect. I knew going into this new job that it was a risk. Lower pay, long commute, tons of weekend overtime, no flex time, and a new “man in charge” who’s just as bad at leadership as the old one. I’d worked with the organization enough in my old position that I knew what I was walking into. But there are many, many pluses. More about that down the line.

There. Post written, and fifteen minutes left of enforced lunch time – enough time to read a few friends’ writings.

It’s good to be back.