Square Pegs vs. Round Holes

Call me crazy (many have), but I’m a firm believer that life is too short to do something you’re not wired to do.

I learned this my first semester in seminary. When you’re in seminary, you have to get something called a Seminary Job. My first Seminary Job was a popular choice for seminary students. I was a security guard at a computer assembly plant. It wasn’t a horrible job. I worked second shift, I was able to study part of the time, I made people stop and point and laugh with my polyester uniform and clip on tie.

But I have to tell you: I’m not wired to be a security guard. For one thing, that was during the incredibly Nice and Accommodating Phase of my life. I still have symptoms, but back then, I was a complete pushover. Example: when I was monitoring people going through the metal detector, you could often hear me say something like, “Excuse me, is that a brand new laptop stuffed into the back of your pants?  Oh, just a really large, metal wallet? No problem, ma’am. Have a nice day. HEY YOU DROPPED THE POWER CORD FOR YOUR WALLET!”

I realized after about six minutes on that security job that I was not wired to do it. Oh, I was decent at it. I followed instructions, I was nice to people, I never once forgot my clip on tie. But I wasn’t wired for it. 

The worst job that you can hold in church is one that you’re not wired for. I’ve seen people who are miserable working with kids because…really and truly…they don’t like kids. (Kids aren’t too crazy about them, either.)  I’ve seen people who lead worship who look miserable. I wish someone would have defended them whenever someone apparently held a gun to their head and forced them to join the choir.

But when you find a role that matches your wiring, that’s a thing of beauty. In our church … in your church … there are numbers nerds who can’t imagine a happier life than sitting down and coming up with new nerdy formulas in their nerdy Excel spreadsheet. Great! Be an office volunteer and create some formulas for those of us who can’t. We have neatniks who can spot a speck of dust at fifty paces. Fantastic! Sign up to be a part of a set up or tear down team. 

The point: everybody has something that makes their hearts beat a little faster. Everybody has something that causes them to want to get out of bed in the morning. How do you help your people find that thing?

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