On a Day Like Today

Have you ever had a day when you feel uninspired and unmotivated?  I'm having one of those days.  Not sure why, but it happens every so often.  I have no reason to be more unmotivated today than any other day.  Perhaps on the contrary.  I have lots of reasons to be motivated today.  I have lots of work to do, lots of great blessings in my life, lots of people who surround me with love, and a wonderful Savior who gives me breath each day.  Still today, focus and productivity escape me.

Days like this provide a good opportunity for me to sit back and remind myself of all the reasons I have to take action against the doldrums in which I find myself.  There's one specific reason I have in mind at the moment, and it's something I haven't shared on this blog as much as I should have yet.

As you may have gathered through earlier posts, I went through a pretty big transition this summer.  I quit my day job and traded it in for a position at a support-based ministry, Living Bread.  I share a little about my transition here and here.  

Living Bread Ministries is an organization that exists to plant churches among the global poor, addressing not only the spiritual needs of poverty stricken communities, but also their physical, social, and emotional needs.  It was founded by Patrick and Barbara Hubbard, a couple I have gotten to know and love over the past couple years.  

My role within the ministry is that of administrative coordinator.  I am trying to take over the office duties to allow the Hubbards to invest their time and energy in expanding the reach of Living Bread, ultimately changing more lives for the sake of the Gospel.  Though I have some experience in administration, this is still a new adventure for me.  I went from a scheduled 8-5 desk job to a working-from-home, as-flexible-as-I-need-it-to-be role.  This newfound freedom has been the biggest adjustment by far.  I enjoy some aspects of it (like wearing jeans if I want to and not having to set my alarm as early), but I struggle with other parts (like resisting the urge to spend my day doing laundry and housework instead and not having an office full of people with whom to interact all day).  I am not good at alone time, and suddenly, I find myself with a lot of it.  Over all, I've been doing ok, but some days (today for example), I can think of about a million things I'd rather do than sit at my desk working all by my lonesome.  

When I get stuck in one of those moments of a I-can't-be-by-myself-for-any-longer-or-I'll-go-crazy mindset, I try to refocus on why I do what I do and how my investment of time and energy will have an impact on eternity.  I didn't quit my job so I could be my own time-manager.  I didn't quit so I could have a job that could travel with me.  I didn't quit so I could stay up late and sleep in the next morning if I want to.  These are all great benefits to this new role, but none of them is the primary reason I do what I do.  I do what I do because I want to support this ministry.  Because through the ministry of Living Bread, churches are being planted, the Gospel is being taught, families are coming to know the love of Christ, lives are touched, and forever is impacted.  I do what I do because it matters.  It matters today.  It will matter tomorrow.  It will matter for eternity.  

And if that isn't motivating, I don't know what is.