Do You Go or Do You Stay?

on August 17th, 2007

Been talking to quite a few youth workers in transition these days, and been posting some good articles on the subject recently, too. This analogy has been floating around in my head with these people in mind. Thoughts?

Let’s say you work for Microsoft.

But, you love what Apple is doing. In fact, what Apple is doing fits your giftedness and you see how you could fit on their team so well. You see incredible dedication, innovation and an environment where it is at least expected if not demanded. Microsoft is the giant, with a huge share of the industry’s market – but Apple, smaller but growing, has a huge share of the industry’s innovation.

But … you work for Microsoft. Microsoft needs you – they have plans for innovation and creativity, your charter is to help it head towards Apple-like status, in fact, to head down that road then blow right past the rebellion. But you see the barriers. You see trends in the past where product releases have been underwhelming and you’ve seen it up close for so long all you see are the flaws. You compare yourself endlessly to Apple, and you wonder if you would be ultimately be more fulfilled over there.

Do you go or do you stay?

I know the analogy breaks down on some levels and totally doesn’t account for God’s Spirit, but I’m still curious what you think.

JG



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Angerson at 11:57am August 17

I think it’s important to go where your heart is. If your heart is in another company, you should go there. I think people cheat their place of employment by not being 100% dedicated. If you’re not on board 100% w/ the vision, leadership, and values — it’s time to go somewhere else…at least that’s what I think…

Anonymous at 12:27pm August 20

I’ve been reading this blog for a while, but haven’t ever felt compelled to post a comment until now.

What you wrote really resonated with me. I’m a first-year youth worker at a small church in Central New York, and while my church is great and I can see a great vision for it in the future, it’s tough to be in this area. Sometimes I wonder if it would be easier/more fulfilling moving to an area where church is more of a way of life and I wouldn’t have to work so hard to get kids to come to events. I guess sometimes I feel like I’d like to go somewhere where I could do more ministry and less “come to church” gimmicks.

…and then I think of Christ – Matthew 9:12. “…It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” I’m not sure when God will call me somewhere else, but I want to strive to do what He asks while I’m here, regardless of the troubles I might face (lack of funds and volunteers, etc.). Going somewhere else might be good for me, but it might not be that great for my church and the kids that I’ve started to build relationships with.

So, do you stay or do you go? …I guess that the way I’m thinking about it now is that, as someone stated above, God gives us discernment and helps teach us what the wise decisions are. Through discernment, God will help you see what you need to do for His glory. And if you’re not doing it for His glory, it’s probably not the wisest decision. Just my two cents, anyway.

~Kevin.