Today I meant with a person from Workforce Develop in my quest for gainful employment. We talked education, scholarships, seminars, and marketability.

I understand the concept of drawing a perspective employer’s attention to skills that he is looking for in filling a position. I know about the marketability game and try to play it, but I don’t like it. I am a “what you see is what you get kind of guy.”

I hated the search process that churches use when looking for pastors and I am in a whole new world in today’s job market. The ability, basic skills, and passion are all there to do many a job I have applied for, but I seem to be the only one who knows that. So, I play the game and I am studying the game to play it better.

One big problem is my pastoral job history. People don’t know what a pastor does and I think they have a reaction of irrelevance or fear toward one with a ministry background. Then I get to thinking how I invested a lot of time, money, and personal sacrifice to do something that wound up leaving me high and dry. So, it is a constant battle to maintain a good attitude and to stay encouraged.

Somehow things will work out and I will find out that I am not as deserted as I feel, but I sure could use some hope.