4 Stages of My Career

For no real reason I recently began thinking about the last 30+ years. How would I describe it? How could I understand it? I suppose one reason I did was that my son is nearing the end of Grade 11 and we've had some talks about careers. And of course, my daughter is likewise almost finished her first year of university!! What will they do? "Dad, what did you do, and how did you decide?"

During my last years of high school, and then throughout my own uni days, I worked a variety of jobs. In no particular order:

General labourer, dishwasher, short order cook, assistant chef, newspaper ad layout, shingle roofer, camp counselor, lifeguard, swim instructor, set design and construction, delivery driver, Gov of Canada, iron ore conveyer belt vulcanizer, book warehouse, model, teacher, english teacher, university english teacher, university lecturer, painter, translator, book publishing, music producer, team leader, branch leader, seminary lecturer, and a few more which I don't recall.

If I had to divide those up time-wise, it would look as follows:

A) Odd jobs in order to be free to follow God overseas - 1989-1996 = 7 years
B) First years overseas, learning the ropes, learning myself, and strengthening, which includes finding the woman who would marry me! - 1996-2007 = 11 years
C) Family life, finished projects, finishing things well - 2007-2018 = 11 years
D) 2nd stage growth (pro, family, life), stabilizing/preparing - 2018-2026 = 8 years

Following God, Obeying God, Serving God, Seeking God, might be another way to categorize those 4 sets of years. Which one has been most challenging? Now that is a tough question to answer. Which has been most fulfilling - C and D, for sure.

It's funny. I feel my career path is the best one anyone could choose. And yet, I don't wish for anyone to actually choose it! Why? It is tough. It is waaayyy too God-centric. In this modern age of self-fulfillment, my path would not be described as self-fulfilling. How so? Well, I don't have a house, nor a car (actually, we do have a car but it we bought it knowing it would be used sparingly and for a short period. It is most certainly NOT an acquisition in the sense I think may people buy cars, for reasons like self-expression, self-reward, etc.), my RRSP is minimal, my belongings can be described per suitcase!

Yet at the same time, when would an Oji-Cree guy in all of history ever had the opportunity to go overseas and meet the cousins, learn 7 other languages to varying levels, work in 5 countries, meet people from all over the world, marry a Texan, have 2 global-aware kids, and have a place to call home anywhere? All the while knowing deep in my heart and by the smile on my face that I am following, obeying, serving and seeking my Creator?

I'm not sure why I'm sharing this. I'm thinking of writing a book in the next few years, so maybe I'm just getting some things out there.