Lessons learned

Beginning next week I'm going to be working full-time (more or less) for Vineyard Church of Columbus. As the time rapidly approaches I find myself thinking through the little ways my life will change. For example, I've realized that the question "So, what line of work are you in, John?" will take some time getting used to.

I've worked up a little math equation for working at the church and it goes something like this: Ministry = Meetings. I had a full day of meetings yesterday and boy was it special. The challenge with meetings is that you normally get some sort of assignment but when you go from one meeting to the next you never have time to do your assignment. There are a few things I have to learn from all this. Well, there's a lot I have to learn but I'll touch on two of them.

Lesson #1: I know that one thing I have to learn from this is time management. In other words I'm going to have to tell more people "Go ahead. I'm going to sit this meeting out."

Lesson #2: I guess the biggest thing I think I'm learning from these meetings is that the Church is made up of many people with many gifts. No one person has all the answers. I'm learning to walk the line between taking charge, earning respect, listening, learning and valuing others. I feel the first year of all this is going to stretch me like Gumby but I'm looking forward to it.

God knows what he's doing. We each have the responsibility not to ask God "Why is this happening to me?" but to ask "What do you want me to learn from this?"