March 30, 2022
What would you do if you could do anything you wanted and you’d be guaranteed success? I asked myself that years ago in a workshop at my church. My answer was, become a minister in the very church in which I was attending the self-help workshop. The interesting thing about my answer was that being disorganized was standing in the way of that dream and I knew I needed to clean up my act before I could ever help others to clean up theirs.
My disorder colored everything in my life with an ugly grey that clouded my joy. It affected my finances, my relationship with my kids and husband, my health, my friendships and my spiritual life. Why couldn’t my answer to my question have been; get organized? I’ll tell you why, getting organized didn’t sound fun! Becoming a minister sounded fun to me. I remember a friend of mine asking me why I wanted to be a minister.
Me: “Hmmm, well, I know what I don’t want to do as a minister.”
Friend: “Like what?”
Me: “I don’t want anyone calling me at home, interrupting me with some personal problem.”
Friend: “Isn’t that what happens with a congregation?”
Me: “I guess, but I’ll get an unlisted number.” (This was way before cell phones.)
Friend: “What else don’t you want to do as a minister?”
Me: “I don’t want to do christenings, funeral services, or weddings. They’re all too formal.”
Friend: “Wow, what’s left that you want to do?”
Me: “Uhh, I want my sermons to be lighthearted, upbeat and funny. I want to be like a spiritual standup comic and after the service I want the people to line up to shake my hand and rave about how happy they are because of my message and how wonderful I am to write such great material.”
Friend (who became a minister): “Hmm, I wonder if becoming a minister is the line of work for you. Maybe you should just look at being a stand-up comic who loves God, and needs to get organized.” (My friend was a B.O. and knew I struggled with disorganization.)