Losing & Gaining

There's something a little disheartening about losing one's money, job, and one's home, eh? Let me explain (it's not quite as dire as it sounds).

Money is scarce right now--I'm sure many of you can relate. For a while, while I was in seminary, I had stipends coming in twice a semester for my involvement as assistant chaplain and in student government. Since I graduated, these no longer exist, and for some reason the loan people want me to start giving them money. Who knew?

Also, by mid-August my job at the seminary library will also be nonexistent since I am not a student there anymore. I am looking at a lot of different job opportunities, but no dice yet. Discerning friends and family remind me that God has something up his divine sleeve for me to do (why else would I have had to struggle through seminary?), but it's hard to search and wait in the meantime. Again, I'm sure many of you can relate! It is unlikely that I will find a ministry position which will support me on its own, so most likely I will be bi-vocational, which is fine. I like variety. But at this point I am looking for just about anything, so please don't harass me too much if I take something which appears to be non-ministry-related ("ministry" is difficult to define anyway, I have decided). Many of my interests include things which are rarely lucrative, like music and writing, so I will be doing those on the side. I am doing those on the side, come to think of it--I've been asked to contribute two chapters to a book that The House Studio (a newer division of Nazarene Publishing House) is working on. The proceeds from this little endeavor will be about enough to buy me gas for a week or two. Hurray!

Finally, I will be moving out of my happy little duplex on Walrond in two weeks. My roommate's brother is moving to town to begin classes at NTS in August, so I'm moving out a little early. It made sense. Michael's parents have offered to let me inhabit their finished basement, which is great. It will save me some money and put me much closer to the good-looking redhead I am to marry. But it will be a little sad to leave the city and the community I've known there for the past 3.5 years. Not to mention the Roasterie!

So, let's take stock. I apparently have enough money to pay for food and shelter, even if all the bills don't get paid. I have a job for a few more weeks, and then I will find another one eventually. I have a place to sleep, and my next roommate (#20) will be a boy! An awesome ginger boy--and I get to adopt his dog! This is exciting. In addition, I have many people in my life who are supportive, even when my life seems insane.

Transition--however drastic it seems--when put into perspective, is really not that bad at all.