Nonchalance

My job / vocation is not your typical 9-to-5. Sometimes it feels more like a 7-11 in the sense that in certain seasons, one work day can last way beyond the setting of the sun.

Like right now. We've had two fathers of our congregation members pass away in the last week and everyone on staff has had to pull double duty where needed. Along with that, we're hosting a pastoral conference in five days, which has also stretched our work force thin. Then there's the two weddings happening a day part of each other this week. So, the expression "when it rains, it pours" is suitably applicable here!

However, we also get to experience varying states and degrees of downtime. Dog days, if you will.

These I look forward to... except when I've had too much of it. In which case, I start looking for things to do. But on its 'natural' ebb and flow, the downtime can be very helpful in recuperating from a season of hard work and emotional toil. Sometimes, being able to sit in the office just surfing the Internet is enough of a relaxation for me. At other times, going out of town to explore nature getaways help broaden one's perspective after weeks, or even months, of laboring in the Lord's vineyard.

There's nothing typical about the life of a church worker in general, and of a pastor in particular. There are long and tiring days that just seem to go on and on. And then there are times when it seems like your life is just one big vacation in the Philippine archipelago.

I wouldn't want to have it any other way though because all things considered -- and to borrow from the country's tourism campaign slogan -- "it's more fun in the ministry!"