Out of the Pigeon Hole
I’ve wanted to be an author my whole life. I still do. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in English literature and creative writing to prove it. But, well, life is a strange and wonderful thing, and God’s plans inevitably trump my own.
In the past couple years, I started to realize something: being a writer had become such a huge part of my identity (despite how little creative writing I’ve actually done since graduating college) that I wasn’t allowing myself to see the bigger picture of what’s possible in this world. The Lord was also working on my heart to help me realize that a) I am so much more than the words I can put on a page or speak in a conversation, and b) I’ve been self-labelling for so long that I often forget that my identity is more about being a child of God than about my talent and passion for communication.
That got me thinking: what other gifts, talents, and interests do I have that I have been ignoring in favor of pursuing this identity as a writer? What other fields and subjects could I be good at? What else can I apply my mind to, such that I can make a difference in even more ways? And how can I use all of this to serve God and His Church?
I realized I was pigeonholing myself into one tiny identity, one interest, one career path that, frankly, has not turned out nearly the way I expected.
I looked back at my days in high school, at the fact that, with as interested in literature and writing as I was, I also loved visual art and computers. Despite the cliche standards of creative people, I was actually good at math, and it made sense to me. I was good at foreign languages, too. Then there’s the fact that I accepted Christ at an early age and was always receptive to and passionate about the conventions of ministry, leadership, and service.
As my little pigeon beak started to exit that hole and sniff the air of the big, wide world, something clicked. There’s so much to learn, so much I can do, so much that could be fun and spiritually rewarding. Not only that, if my Heavenly Father has the final word on what I do and become and whom I’m able to serve as a result, there’s no telling what’s possible.
What’s possible is this:
I am now learning about computers and Information Technology so I can use tech and media tools to show people the love of Jesus.
I just received my first district ministry license as a pastor in the Church of the Nazarene, which is a major step towards ordination.
I help lead a recovery group for people struggling with hurt, addiction, and mental health issues, because I’ve been through some of that myself and have become passionate about helping other people find victory.
I’m planning to create extensive theology resources over time so I can disciple people and help them find wholeness in Jesus.
And much more that I can’t even imagine right now.
I never would’ve expected to be involved in any of this. But isn’t that the beauty of it all?
When I look around at this world, I see possibilities. I see opportunities. I see a world that needs the love of Jesus, and if anyone can take my little bit and turn it into a ministry, it’s the amazing, all-knowing God I serve.
There’s a lot of fear involved in this, true, but fear is a liar, and I refuse to run my life based on fear of what may happen.
It’s time to spread my wings.