Yes, I left my job during the recession. It becomes more scary as I write it down. I'll be starting a new chapter in my life and I want it to be witnessed with this blog which I intend to treat as an online journal/rant of sorts. I started to feel the itch to leave in winter, which is about right seeing as how I haven't lasted at any of my jobs out of college more than 12 or 15 months. I am pretty darn proud that I last a whole 20 months at my most recent engagement though.
Moving on, I quit my non-profit-flexible work hours-with a competent, understanding boss job because I want to go to seminary and work in the field of religion (please hold all applause and/or sarcastic remarks until you finish reading this post). Not deciding in time to comfortably apply for 2010, I knew I wanted to start my journey in 2010 even if seminary wasn't on the horizon for another year. Here's how most conversations go when I tell people about my big change:
Friend/Acquaintance: Oh, you're becoming a pastor? That's wonderful.
Me: Actually, I haven't decided if that's the path I want to take.
F/A: So, what kind of job are you going to get?
Me: Well, I haven't figured that out yet but I am really interested in a lot of different subjects that seminary has to offer, like interfaith work and bioethics. And I trust that I'll figure out the end goal when the time comes.
F/A: So what denomination are you?
Me: Well, I grew up Methodist but really feel at home in a Unitarian-Universalist congregation right now. But I don't feel tied to any specific denomination. I don't like signing anyone's books. It's not what's important to me.
F/A: Oh. Ok.
Banter goes back and forth but no progress is made as I seem to force folks out of their talking-about-religion comfort zone. I know there are other people out there venturing uncertainly into seminary... I guess I just haven't met any of them yet (and neither have the people I've been talking to). Some folks are immediately turned away by my seminary aspirations, especially here in the Nation's Capitol where many work in politics and identify religion as a nuisance. Others seem nervous that I have quit my job for the next year to explore some of my career aspirations. Luckily the only opinion that matters is my own.
But here's the real low down. Starting July 6th I will be heading to a retreat center in NY state to do a month long interfaith internship focused on farming, hospitality, and non-violence/peace-building in the Abrahamic faiths. There will be over a dozen other interns there, all young adults who are either Jewish, Christian or Muslim. I am looking forward to a time of both manual work and intellectual stimulation both of which I have been lacking of late. When I return in August I'll prep and take the GRE (since Harvard Divinity School requires it). Then, I'll cram a little vacation into my hectic schedule and come back post-Labor day to continue my year of exploration.
Currently I'm applying to internships for this fall and hoping to land some part-time work as well with progressive organizations that tackle issues of faith and society. Sounds vague mostly because I am open to learning and working in many different environments both within and outside of the Church (capital "C" because I mean church orgs in general and not one specific denomination).
September seems far away right now but I know that summer vanishes more quickly than any other season so I would prefer to have all my ducks in a row before vacation in late August. A good quote I like negates my intentions, "If you want to make God laugh, tell God your plans". So despite my urge to line up the perfect mixture of intriguing internship and wonderful part-time work I will take a deep cleansing breath and acknowledge that a leap of faith is no fun at all without unexpected twists and turns an even a little panic. So please (if you care to) join me on this unorthodox journey of exploring my life and passion, applying for seminary, and everything in between.
G
