Like this:

It’s been a while. Whoops. Guess I’ve kinda been going through a writing drought. Never really felt there was much to share. Anyways, back on the horse!

So I’m kinda frustrated with my job situation. And it strikes me as really ironic because a) it’s a good job that I enjoy for the most part and b) I HAVE A JOB… I should be happy, right?

Here’s the cliff notes version of the situation:

My job at the newspaper is an evening job, which makes having a social life difficult. Between hockey games of my own, bible study on Tuesday nights and other things I’d like to do with friends and whatnot, there can be a lot going on. I have to be a bit creative to be involved in my hockey team, drumming at church and other things. I have to keep track of it all on my calendar so I can get the nights off that I need and it gets pretty crazy sometimes.

I missed a couple games last hockey session because I couldn’t get the night off. Frustrating. I likely won’t be able to play softball this summer because I won’t be able to get the nights off. Not as frustrating… more disappointing.

To his credit, my boss is very good about accommodating day off requests. My concern, though, is that my schedule gets pretty crazy in the next couple months and I wonder how it’s all going to shake out. Case in point, another sports assistant will need Mar. 5 off because she has kid’s games to go to that day. Well, I need that day off as well because I have a Corban track meet that day, plus a hockey game that night. I fear it won’t happen. Missing the hockey game isn’t a tragedy (though it would suck), but missing the meet is pretty important, seeing as that’s my other paid job.

I know I’m worrying, which isn’t healthy. But, I see a potential problem and it makes me anxious. Also, I found out that one of the other sports assistants may be quitting soon, which would leave us more short-staffed than we already are. I’ll put it this way: we still haven’t hired a replacement for the last sports assistant that quit. Yikes. What I heard when she told that she’d be giving her notice was “hello more nights of work.” And I don’t mean that in a good way.

Don’t get me wrong… I’m grateful for the job. And it’s a good job. I like what I do. But this is what sucked about it the last time around… I had to sacrifice other areas of my life because of it.

Now, missing hockey games isn’t so bad. Yeah, I’m losing money by not playing, but I’m earning money by working. So it washes out. Same thing with softball. But I’m missing out on something I enjoy, which kinda sucks.

My job has also gotten in the way of making choir and band practices during the week for my church drumming. I’ve discussed it with our music director and we’ve made it work. But it’s frustrating. It interferes with something I’ve committed to, and it’s something that I enjoy. I feel like my job doesn’t allow me to be completely available to honor the commitment I’ve made to drum.

Jobs are important. I have to earn a paycheck. I know that. But I’ve become increasingly frustrated with my newspaper job in recent weeks. And it’s not like I’m really in a position to quit since one of the other sports assistants will be giving her notice here soon. Plus, I wouldn’t quit unless I had another job as a backup… which at this point, I don’t.

All of this complaining brings me to this thought: everything happens for a reason.

We are taught as Christians that every day, every situation, every circumstance isn’t a fluke or a waste of time. Each stage of life leads into another and it all makes sense in God’s plan. Lots of times, we don’t see the point of what’s going on but that’s because we don’t have God’s divine perspective.

But that’s where I’m at right now… Why am I in a job that frustrates me like this? One that takes me away from complete involvement in a church ministry (drumming) and interferes with things I enjoy (hanging out with friends, occasional missed hockey games, no softball, etc.)?

I know that this is a teaching tool for me. I’m just not quite sure what to make of it. Is this something I should fight and persevere through, or should I be looking for a different job that doesn’t dictate my life so much?

To paraphrase Isaiah 55:9, God’s ways are higher and His thoughts are wiser. I’m here for a reason. This situation is all part of a master plan that God has set out for me. I have to trust that God is in control (which He is) and that it will work out for my good.

My prayer is that I don’t get so bogged down in the frustration of the situation that I miss something that God is trying to teach me. We’ll see how it all plays out.

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