From a conversation I had recently:
New Neighbor: ___ told me you have a new job!
Me: Yes, it’s great.
NN: ____ said if you don’t leave the institutional church after this, you probably never will.
Me: (weird look on my face)
Me: Actually it’s kind of wonderful. I get to deal with things that would definitely make some people want to leave the institutional church. But my job involves making the way clear for people to do what God is calling them to do.
NN: Yeah, but church people love power games.
Me: (in my head) Yep, some people are @X*!& or they have their theology is the Christian version of this guy or they had some horribly scarring fraternity hazing experience that makes them want to haze people too.
Me: (what I really said) Well, that’s true. But my job is permission-giving within the parameters of our theology and norms.
NN: (weird look on her face)
Happy Friday.
A Church for Starving Artists 
“permission-giving within … parameters “: what a wonderfully positive way to describe your job.
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Amen to Dec. And I am so glad you are being faithul to your calling.
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I love how you re-frame stuff, in work and in observing life.
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