Now there are many reason to stay at a job. But money isn't! Now, don't get me wrong, I fully understand -- money is necessary. Money is critical.

But so is water. And air. And sleep.

So I'm not going to suggest you live for some higher purpose and stop eating or sleeping for days on end.

But what I am saying is there should be something else about the work for other than money.

To me there needs to be at least one or more of these 3 attributes included in your work. If not, you should start planning your escape.

1. You work with people you love. And they seem to love you more!

My wife works with people who genuinely care for her. And its almost weird, but very good. The most grueling job can be worth it when the people you work with add joy to your life.

2. Your main activities at work align with and use your greatest strengths and passions.

Which would you rather do:

A. Be an intern or mentee for your most admired professional; using the actual skills you wish to perfect over your career?

Or

B. Make a "nice" salary working 80 hours a week for people who hate you, doing stuff you don't care about.

3. Your work is doing something, serving a purpose or mission that deeply aligns with your highest values.

You might not make a lot of money, you might not really love your coworkers. But when the things you are doing or accomplishing makes the struggling all worth it; that is a job worth keeping.

Conclusion: Of course our life isn't a utopia. And if you're over 25 years old you know you very rarely get everything you want in life.

But I do think that we should keep the idea in front of us that we do have options. We can chose to do what we love if we're open to making less for a season. We can leave an unhealthy work relationship. We can live for something other than just sucking air...

Our jobs get more dedicated time of our life than almost any endeavor. And so we need to take control of it and not settle forever.

And for some reason we yield; and fall into the trap. That actions of our surroundings and past, should govern the way we act.

But now I'm coming to think, and believe in heart and mind. I can make decisions consistently healthly; and leave the past behind.

So will you join me in this journey. To become a better (wo)man? Neither for show nor success, but just because we can.

Man! How hard is it for us to just do something!

"Something" is referring to whatever we would do, if we were free to dream. Free from obligations; free from kids, spouses, bills, responsibilities etc.

But of course this type of 'freedom' only exists in between the sheets when we can have 200 hours in each day and real life moves slow enough for us to accomplish our mission at a fraction of real time.... 

(if u don't follow that, I'm loosely referring to the state of dreaming as depicted in the movie Inception)

So anyway, the freedom we are waiting for is just a dream.

In actuality, we have to make ourselves do stuff because if we don't; people, things, or our own guilt will make us do 'other stuff.'

And this 'other stuff' that we do MUST BE for others..? If we start doing things solely for ourselves we are selfish. Egotistical and selfserving. Right? 

If there is a store front who has a neighboring business that has tons of traffic; putting up a sign denying parking identifies your company as jealous and a bit snobby.

Even worse, you stop those customers from looking at and thinking about your company everytime they come near.

Think about it.

If that other company has that many customers, you could use your store window as advertising directly to those customers!!

In Tulsa, there is a dry cleaners next to Double Shot and in BA, a liquor store next to Stonewood. Both make is very apparent that you can't park there... (of course you will notice the popular places don't have those same signs)

But what if they offered a 20% discount to people who bring in their coffee cup sleeve? Or anything like that to arrest the attention of those passing by.

I think that approach is a bit better for growing and keeping business.

Today I killed the idea that I need to "preach in a church" or "teach in a Christian school" in order to "minister" and/or impact people directly for purposes of Jesus Christ.

More specifically, I decided to unsubscribe from Regent University email updates about their Divinity School informational meetings and webinars, etc.

But why did I do this, and why is it important?

In short, ever since entering seminary, I've considered pursing and Phd in either systematic theology or church history. (Thus my subscription to Regent's emails.) However, as of now, that idea is dead. And it's dead not by mistake nor because of circumstances; it's dead because I killed it. 

This decision comes after years of thinking and praying. Searching and wondering... Working in business and yet feeling guilty that I wasn't "in ministry"; or that I wasn't "fulfilling God's call on my life."

(Related post: God Money & Gebedo )

So anyway, now I'm convinced and convicted that God is in me most, when I'm in my business. And so right here is my ministry. I need no more theological training to be better equipped to serve people the way God is currently calling me. 

// Side notes and principles:

I believe and I am learning there are various seasons in life. And seasons of study and preparation do not always flow directly as we would assume in relative activity.

Perhaps in between our preparation and production their are completely different intermediate seasons? Not for what we think we should be doing, but for what God wants us to do... From working at Starbucks, raising someone else's child, or living in a foreign town...

Things don't always go the way we plan, even when we have a meticulous prayed though plan... And yet still, somehow, all things work together for God's purposes. 

Selah. 

Comments, responses, Retweets, and "Likes" are always welcome. :)

P.S. Speaking of email subscriptions - please put your email address in the little box over there on the TOP-RIGHT of this page, and these blog post will magically appear in your inbox.  Normally 1 - 2.5 times a month max.

And then the opposite would be, if you're not constantly doing stuff, you're either lazy, poor or apathetic.

But let's not stop there!

What about how we all claim we need more time. I know I've often wished for 28 hours in the day or to be able to live off of 3 hours of sleep every night.

And lastly there is the coveted gift of time management. To perfectly sort and cram the most activities into our day and not pass out! Yes, "earn your sleep", this is means your not wasting your life! And blah, blah, blah...

So anyway, here's my latest (learned) theory:

What we really need is discernment and margin.

We need to do less.

In between our priorities, commitments, wishes and dreams; we need unspecified, unallocated time.

And in that space - these margins need to remain open.

So when game changing, highly valued opportunities present themselves, we will have the time AND energy to take advantage of them without sacrificing previous commitments.

You see, when we work without breaks or margin, we either cannot discern the good from the great or we just won't have space to properly seize the great ones.

This of course is my humble opinion, but what do you think? Have you ever found yourself stuck in low valued commitments that hindered you from grasping rare opportunities?

Or maybe you've mastered this balance seen success?

Either way, pls share!

Why is it that many of the things that give us the greatest reward are connected to processes that we fear?

But then there are those gray areas that are 'ok' to do; and they give neither buzz nor anxiety to complete.

I have no answers here- just questions...

But my intuition leads me to look a little closer into those fear/reward areas...

Should I start figuring a way to do them more?

Is God speaking to me in them?

Are there forces of darkness assigned to hinder me from success there?

Or is all this just speculation?

What do you think?