Is This The Real Life?!

originally published 11/24/2017

It’s just days after Thanksgiving and it’s been a long time between posts.  I am on a gratitude high!  I’ve been slightly thanks-intoxicated for months (you should try this stuff), but being with my family to tell about it all has pushed me right over the edge.  Wheeeeee! 

I have a new niece (6 weeks old!) to celebrate!  Visiting my sister, brother-in-law, two adorable nephews, the dog and the cat, is now even more awesome.  They actually ARE the wholesome-happy-family country song, in real life.  My parents are in mostly good health.  

I am enormously, daily, grateful for the ongoing attitude-overhaul since I decided to resign from my call.  More on this, another time.  

As one of my coffees mug tells me: Start where you are, Use what you have, Do what you can.  

In the last 6 months:

I got out of a too-expensive rental without any lease-breaking fuss or added costs, thanks to some good old fashioned honesty with the landlord.  She’s a peach and if you want to live on Bainbridge Island, I’m happy to connect you, in case her spot is available.  But you might need some of that Amazon-level salary… which I definitely did not, and still don’t.  

Applied for a long-shot of a job, did not get it, but instead landed a different position that is much more suited to me, full time, benefits, and exactly one mile from my (new-to-me) home.  Hello pleasant walk to pleasant job!  I’m now a librarian at a small private middle school, and it’s wonderful.  Really sweet kids, a supportive professional culture (WOW can that make a difference), and… books.  I’m surrounded by books every day!  

And I hosted my mother for a wonderful week-long visit in late July.  She helped me move into the aforementioned studio apartment that I found through word-of-mouth.  It was a lightning-fast move… two pickup loads of stuff, one trip to the dump, and one hefty donation to the local second-hand shop.  (BONUS: One dead pickup battery allowed us to connect with a reputable mechanic who happens to love Honda Ruckuses.  His shop recently cleaned my carburetor for FREE!!)  And then Mom and I had LOTS of time to stroll the beaches, oogle Bainbridge’s cute shops, and even hit a happy hour or two.  

These three things were an interconnected simultaneous blur over the summer, all settled by August.  The catalyst: an unfortunate but necessary breakup.  The brief mention may come across as callous.  So be it.  But it wasn’t taken lightly and if I saw a way to make that relationship work, I would have done it.  (I wish I hadn’t mentioned my relationship at all in my first post… “full of respect and love” was a *bit* of a stretch even then, and I’ve felt sheepish about it since.  Consider us now square, dear reader.)  

There’s more to be grateful for: 

I still serve at the restaurant I’ve been LOVING since last November.  With the new full-time work, I can moonlight a couple nights a week, and more during school breaks.  Serving is a social outlet; it’s great that I can keep up with the co-worker friends I’ve made.  And I’m also stacking up what I’ve affectionately labeled the “what’s next fund.”  Because the full-time gig is a one-year contract, so I will make hay while the sun shines, and all that.  If the school contract isn’t renewed, I’ll be ready for what’s-next.  And that makes me very grateful.  

I’m grateful for invitations to teach, and sometimes preach, at local congregations.  (I’ll be at Queen Anne Lutheran on Dec 3, 10, and 17… come hang out with me and Dan!)  Creating opportunities for adults’ faith formation was one of my true joys as a pastor, and I’m so glad I can still do this.  I even write an occasional commentary, for others’ sermon-prep.  

Lately, though, the BIGGEST gratitude and energy revolves around the “getting out of debt” aspect of life.  I’m using more than half my income toward debt payments, and I’ve paid off $10,000 so far!!  (Actually, $10,775, on two separately-served consolidation loans.  I’m focusing on $2k/month toward the beast with the higher interest and larger balance.)  I made my first big payment on my 35th birthday, and it was the best gift to myself, possibly ever.  It is SO FUN to watch the balance I owe decrease!  

Even using so much of my income for debt relief, there’s room to improve.  I have not really reined in my lifestyle, other than 1) housing appropriate to an economically-minded single person, and 2) not having a car anymore.  (Have I mentioned my adorable scooter??)  I would benefit, and not suffer, with a few reasonable rules.  Like, no online shopping impulse buys.  Seriously.  Am I six, and in a damn candy shop?  No!  The new criteria is simple: if I wouldn’t let someone else spend my money on x product, then I probably shouldn’t either!  

My life is ridiculously good right now, so much that I feel like I’m getting away with something.  I am tentatively making connections in a local congregation.  Delicious beer still finds its way from the store to my fridge, as do organic veggies, eggs, coffee, and more.  I’m a short walk from a beach, along a path through blackberry canes.  The cycling, which I could do more, is as challenging or as easy as you feel like choosing.  Many close friends are a quick ferry-and-scoot ride away, weather permitting (this winter, I even have rain pants, oooh, fancy!).  If there is any conceivable fly in this ointment, it is only that ALL of my friends and loved ones are not as geographically close.  I wish you were.  

I’m aware that many are not having such fortune.  The church remains an anxious institution, with a tendency to eat her young (she merely gnaws on lucky ones).  And our national and global situations are saturated with bullshit, tragedy, and bullshit-induced tragedies.  But around here, bullshit is given no quarter, and I pray ‘kyrie eleison' and ‘where can I be helpful?’ for the rest.  I’m finding sustenance in the duty and delight to give thanks at all times and in all places.  I can only take so much credit for my life’s good fortune, and almost all of said good fortune is due to living in obedience to both common sense and most of what Jesus has always said.  Make that, a little of what Jesus has to say.  I am *not* in the running for Disciple of the Year.  

Until next time, thanks for some of your attention.