I was often asked as a child what I wanted to be when I grew up and even from an early age, I’m told, I answered, “I want to be a teacher, ” and coming from a big family that was always followed by, “and mommy.” I really think it had to do with my critical third grade year. I remember my teacher mailed me letters in the summer before my third grade year and they would have misspellings in them that I was to circle and find and bring to school once the school year started. We did a trip around the world when I was in third grade and my country was Germany, which began my German-ness that still made me dream of living in Germany one day and still drives me to find local German restaurants. Funny how you can trace back parts of yourself to third grade, isn’t it?
But who I am today would never have entered my mind as a third grader. I never thought I would be a woman pastor because I didn’t know that women could be pastors. I never thought I would love my job and my profession as much as I loved being a mom, but there is something miraculous that happens when you are doing what you were created to do. There is a wholeness and a fulfillment that opens your eyes to the fact that there is more to this life than the day in day out humdrum that we often lose ourselves in.
I find even at 30, I want to keep asking myself this question because if we don’t ask ourselves what we want to be and what we want out of this life, then we will find that we are wasting our lives day by day, week by week. It’s easier to do than you realize because there are things that have to get done. Whether it’s lingering a little longer over dinner with your partner, reading one more chapter or book to your kids, or being just a little late to work, may we remember in these moments that these moments are what life is made up of.