Organizing Seven

In recent weeks I went from having no job to having seven of them. Seven jobs you say! What on earth? Indeed a valid question. One, after accepting number seven yesterday, I briefly paused to consider. What I have done to my calendar in the last few weeks is take it from a decently blank slate with which I could do any number of things of my choosing and turned it into a apparent chaos. Amazingly however, with the help of my pda, everything is running smoothly. In part I believe this due to my superior organizational skills. An example: yesterday I was making a list of people for which I had to buy cards. Someone pointed out to me that my list was alphabetical. This had been unintentional on my part however, in the observer's opinion it demonstrated some sense of structure at work in my psyche. Her opinion has been duly noted and appreciated for its potential truth.

Intended here I wish to detail for you what on earth I am doing with my life. You see, seven is significant. It certainly, if nothing else, is a large number of jobs to hold. But I feel safe to say there's more to its significance than that. And since I have reached that number in jobs, I think I am now ready to reveal to inquiring minds that may wish to know. . . "what on earth is she doing with her life?" This will serve a dual purpose in that I find myself in need of a structure with which to keep the seven jobs all straight so I know where to be, physically, emotionally, mentally, and completely for the different occasions of my absurdly scheduled life. Giving them all numbers should clearly help. I begin following order of importance and then when that becomes foggy, I simply list by order of acquisition.

Number One:
My first and full-time commitment is defining and understanding my call into ministry. You may recall a post [Oct 27, 2005] where I mentioned I understood God's call on my life. While that was the time I understood it and embraced it - indeed even shared it with some of you - I was no where near ready to shout it out it for all to know. Today, I can confidently say to everyone who begs the question, "What do you do?" that I am going to be in ministry for the rest of my life.
Is this paying job? Not today. May it be in the future? Indeed that is the goal. For it is into vocational or full-time ministry that I have understood my call to be. But it is my lifelong commitment no matter the paycheck.

Number Two:
Writing. Again this may not meet your definition of a job as it does not today put anything in my pocket expect broken lead and crumpled trees. However, I have identified (not without a lot of help) a gift and talent that needs development. More than development it simply needs use. I have therefore decided to place a new emphasis on my writing. I am taking deliberate steps increase its importance in my world; indeed to elevate it to a place it has never been. I will be pouring my time, tears, blood, and pain into this work. I have no thoughts of what to expect in the outcome of this effort; I begin only with the knowledge that I wish to produce something unfeigned.

Number Three:
In October when my small group helped a family in the church move the baby's mom, Kristy, observed me playing with her daughter on the floor and noticed that I was, good with kids. Of course I explained it by telling her I'd been a nanny. She asked what I did now. I had just figured out the whole ministry thing at that point and thing was, I had no idea how I was going to make money. As it turned out, they needed someone to watch their then nine-month old daughter. So, though I said I was done last spring, it is what I am trained in, skill at, and just plain love. I'm once again a nanny. Holland turns one Sunday and her party is tomorrow. Add to schedule: wrap gift.

Number Four:
Job title: Temp. Agency: Alliance HR Network. Registered last summer with this agency but didn't opt to work with them then. Apparently being in their data base warrants a phone call every now and again. Such a phone call I received at the end of November. It was perfect timing. The set up is pretty sweet. They are aware of job number one and completely understand that is my career/life goal. They have me on an assignment with a company called Ryland Homes. My assignment: go sit in offices at various places of model home display. I answer phone calls and since I know nothing of this business of home-selling, simply tell people the staff will call them back when they return. I seldom get to interact with people and so I have a lot of time for job number two. It's a fabulous design. There is of course the added bonus of the getting to gawk at gorgeous models I'll never be able to afford and dream dreams that will never come true about living in them. I usually only go in to open and close them for fear of fits of anger over that fact.

Number Five:
A good friend of mine, Melanie, is a single mother of two. Recently in a wonderful career move she was promoted to store manager of a large pet store. Her very own store is not so conveniently located to her home. This leaves her with a daycare issue. Solution? Friend who doesn't have a "real job" can take kids to daycare. Alicia is seven and Anthony is three and a half. Taking into consideration the early hour I rise for this job (4:30am), the Saturday hours, Alicia's special needs, and the addition of the carseats to my car this proves to be my most difficult job. But it is probably the most vital job at the moment. And, save Saturdays when I have the kids all day, could potentailly be done by 6:45am leaving the whole day open for jobs one, two, three, four, six, and seven.

Number Six:
Just when I got discouraged and started realizing that even though working five jobs, my income was not near enough to make my monthly commitments, the phone rang with what would soon become job number six. Another childcare need. Family of job number three had referred me highly. The question posed on my voicemail that day wasconsider I would consdier watching a child only one day a week. By now, accustom to the fact that God has his way of providing for his children's needs, I did not hesitate to recognize this for what it was. I said that I would certainly be willing. After an interview and prayer on both their part and mine, I'm watching Zach, the two and a half year old son of Craig and Anne on Mondays from 8-5. He's amazingly smart, has the vocabulary of a five year old, and a longer attention span than I do. I have a feeling Mondays are going to be a blast. It's also a blessing to have prayers answered in such tangible ways. I get to spend nine hours a week with an adorable answer to my prayers for extra money. How amazing is that?

Number Seven:
My most recent addition to the repertoire of employment came just yesterday. Earlier this week I was at dinner with my friend Kari when she told me that an old employer of mine was looking for my number. I got in contact with them to learn that they want to hire me again. But this time it's not for childcare. With a third on the way, Terri remembered that when I got pissed off or just plain bored, I would organize or clean the house. (I think I was just generally in a very pissed off mood during the time I was working for them last spring. Poor kids.) She was wondering what I was doing now and if I would be amenable to coming in to organize her life for her because she simply can't manage. So, job number seven is, I guess, that of a professional organizer. Though I don't think I can claim professionalism quite yet I'm very curious to see what becomes of this. Because of course I agreed. Who wouldn't??!?! This job will be a nice outlet - and maybe more of an inlet than I realize - for my organizational skills. I'm afraid I might be quite good at this.

Hopefully I won't start unintentionally alphabetize things too frequently. At least if I do, I there won't be anyone around to point it out for me.