Jobs I've Had

So I was talking with some friends the other night when our discussion turned to the jobs we've held at various times in our lives. I started thinking about it and...wow...I've had a lot of different jobs! The one thing that's been consistent for the past 20 years is that I've been doing music. But the list below is how I actually paid the bills (and supported my music "habit."):

1. Ranch Hand--digging postholes, feeding cattle on a south Texas ranch
2. Grocery Store Bagboy/Stockboy--Churchill's Food Store, Three Rivers, TX
3. Grocery Store Assistant Produce Manager--Churchill's Food Store, Three Rivers, TX
4. Cook/Clerk at McDonald's, Beeville, TX
5. Land Surveyor's Assistant, Beeville, TX
6. Construction Crew--roofing/interior/insulation, Pettus, TX
7. Newspaper reporter--Bee Picayune, Beeville, TX
8. DJ--KISS-FM, Brownwood, TX
9. Car Salesman--Hyundai Dealership in Riverside, CA
10. Telemarketer--San Antonio, TX
11. Satellite Operations Specialist--KENS-TV, San Antonio, TX
12. Retail Sales--Gadzook's Clothing Store, Waco, TX
13. Television Master Control Operator--KWTX, Waco, TX
14. Youth Pastor--1st Methodist Church in Hewitt, TX
15. Television News Producer--KWTX-Waco, TX
16. Television News Producer--WTVC-Chattanooga, TN
17. Assistant Manager, Eddie Bauer Store, Colorado Springs, CO/Aurora, CO
18. Television News Producer/Reporter/Anchor--KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO
19. Television News Anchor--KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO
20. Media Director--Rocky Mtn. Calvary, Colorado Springs, CO
21. Worship Leader--fill-in for a number of churches in Colorado Springs, CO
22. US AdvocacyRadio Manager--Compassion International, Colorado Springs,CO
23. Product Marketing Director-US Advocacy--Compassion International, Colorado Springs, CO

And yes, there's at least one "story" behind every one of those jobs. But I won't bore you.

So...now it's your turn. List the jobs that you've had in your life.

Sick Boy

The past few days, my little boy, Morgan, has been sick. Nothing too serious...but enough to make him cry out in pain from time to time.

I don't know about other dads, but it absolutely shreds my heart to see my little boy in pain. Oh, I hate not being able to take that away. When he looks at me like, "daddy, make it go away." Ugh.

I am very thankful for my job. It affords me much more than the opportunity to put food on the table (which is a much-appreciated accomplisment)...but it also allows me to provide medicine for when my little guy is sick. It allows me to know that he's safe at home with his mommy while I'm at my desk. And, since I work for such a wonderful ministry, it also allows me to help take care of children living in extreme poverty around the world--who can't afford medicines or food without our help.

Still, when my little guy is sick...I just wish I could stay home and hold him all day long. That beats a good day at work any day.

Change

Change. I've never been a big fan of that word. This week, there's a lot of change going on at my job. And I'll be the first to admit, I don't like it. I don't like moving offices. I don't like changing job titles. And if I hear the phrase, "we're going to stretch you" one more time, I'm going to punch somebody. I hate the corporate mentality that says we have to keep making our way up the ladder or else we're considered complacent, lazy. What's wrong with liking the way things are and wanting to stay there for awhile? I'm a firm believer in the Peter Principle. If you're not familiar with it, basically, it says that you can be promoted beyond your usefulness. Indeed, in my career, I've seen many people who are really good at their jobs get promoted to jobs where they're extremely incompetent. A job well done, it seems, is rewarded with a promotion...until the job is no longer done well. I'm also a firm believer in the adage, "If it an't broke, don't fix it." And this week, we're "fixing" a lot of things at work that were, in my opinion, working just fine. Nay, they were working better than they ever have before. It's frustrating. Disappointing. And it has stolen much of the joy I got from my job. But I'm happy to have a job that allows me to put food on the table. I'm glad that I can support my family with my career. So, I smile...play nice...and continue climbing the ladder to incompetence.