For years and years I’ve said it would be fun to work at Barnes and Noble. I love books, I love organization, I love coffee (yes, Starbucks scorched beans and all!). And Barnes and Noble is hands-down our favorite date night—we openly and proudly admit to be nerds, bookworms, dorks—pick your choice.
So awhile ago or so when Tom and I were there one evening, I randomly asked a bookseller if they had any openings. One application, one group interview, and one job offer later, I am Barnes and Noble seasonal help.
As a card carrying BN member, I am ridiculously excited about this new job. Ridiculous on SO many levels. Like getting shivers the first time I was in the receiving room ridiculous. But also as in ordained minister working crazy hours for minimum wage ridiculous as well.
This got me to thinking about being seasonal help during the holidays—probably not as great as I think it will be, right? But I have to be honest, while there are some things I absolutely LOVED about serving in a church, there are some serious drawbacks as well, especially in December. It was only somewhat tongue and cheek that the sr. minister at the last church I served and I sang, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” of ourselves as a Christmas duet a few years ago at a holiday variety show. Christmas is not all warm fuzzies and Jesus in the church.
This got me thinking even more on maybe starting a blog weighing out the two jobs: words vs the Word, that sort of thing. Bookseller vs minister just isn’t very catchy, so you get Reverend vs Retail—one minister’s journey comparing the season from the pulpit and the book floor.
And the adventure begins….
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I have a sneaky suspicion most members of most congregations expect ministers to be little more than providers of general products (sermons about baby Jesus, carols, etc.) during the holiday season so that your new job may not be all that different (in some ways) from your "old" one....
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your thoughts.... Hope I'm wrong! :-)
Grace and Peace,
`tim
While I'm not a minister yet, I'm working on it. And working in retail! Two very different worlds, but full of the same people. Can't wait to see what you learn!
ReplyDeletePeace,
Megan (argabrite)
Good point, Tim--of course, people think of God as a vending machine as well, so maybe God's sitting there thinking, "Welcome to my world, Jess." :) Megan, we'll try not to taint you so much that you skip ministry and just stay in retail.
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