Do I have to…or do I get to?

Today I’m in a bit of a rush.  I have to write this newsletter article.  I need to get a sermon started for Sunday.  I have one last youth ministry night to prepare for.  I have some faith formation ideas to get together in preparation for Peace’s conversations on Sunday morning.  I have an inbox full of e-mail that I need to deal with.  That’s just the stuff that I have to do for Peace!  I have synod work that I need to crank out too.  I hope I have the energy to get it all done!

That’s one way to look at the day.  Here’s another.

Today I get to come to a job that I really enjoy.  I have the opportunity to write a newsletter article that can help people to grow in faith.  I get to prepare a sermon where I have the pleasure of proclaiming the Good News of Jesus.  I pray that the Holy Spirit will use it to change people’s lives.  Tonight some young men and women will come to the last youth ministry of the year, and I get to find ways to help them know Jesus more deeply.  This morning I get to do what many pastors would only dream about: I get to develop some cutting edge ideas for the ways to help people at Peace grow in faith…and tomorrow night I get to share those with a team of people excited about faith!    I have an inbox full of e-mail from people at Peace who are excited about what is happening here and who want to have a part in our future.  That’s just the stuff that I get to do at Peace!  I also get to be a part of very exciting conversations concerning new ministries throughout the synod.   I can’t wait to jump in and get started!

Two ways of looking at the day: one focusing on tasks that need to be ‘cranked out’…the other celebrating that I get to do things that I enjoy.

It’s quite tempting to focus on what I ‘have to do.’  Between the work that I do for Peace, the work I do for the bishop, and the work I have to do at home the to-do lists never seem to end.  They can wear me down to the point where I grumpily approach each item as simply another task to get off the list.  On those days, my motivation level plummets.  I get overwhelmed.

But God has blessed me to have the opportunity to do what I enjoy.  I like to write, I love to craft sermons, I appreciate knowing that the work that I do here at Peace (and throughout the synod) makes a difference in the world.  These aren’t mere tasks for me to whip through…these are opportunities to do what I enjoy.  Doing things I love adds to my motivation!  I actually get more done!

This morning I’m reveling in God’s blessings.  Bring on the to-do list…because it abounds in wonderful ministry opportunities!