Full Circle

Vocational Path thus far:

Pre-1998 - Carpentry/Construction
1998 - Received a calling to ministry
1999 - Entered Manchester College as Religion major
2000 - Ministry Summer Service, Call to Pastoral Ministry, Licensed to Ministry
2001 - Pastor at Bethel Center CoB (interest in spiritual formation)
2002 - Pastor at West Manchester CoB (interest in masculine spirituality & rites of passage)
2005 - Back to Manchester (interested in teaching Old Testament)
2006 - IPFW, Anthropology major (w/ Native American Studies cert.)
2007 - Tracker School
2009 - Wilderness Awareness School
2010??

It has been helpful to see the patterns that have emerged in my vocational training. For the better part of 1998 to 2005, I sensed that my calling was to be in pastoral ministry in a congregational setting. Since late 2005 and into 2006, I have sensed a stronger more specific call to outdoor education/ministry. Affirmations and a passion for wilderness skills has reinvigorated my soul and I now understand to which ministry I am called.

I have question marks after 2010 not because I don't know what I want to do, rather because I'm not certain which field my journey at WAS will direct me. Right now, I am deeply interested in wilderness therapy programs. Here's one in particular that has my interest.

There is a six-fold reason that I am drawn towards this work:
1. I would get to teach wilderness survival skills
2. I would get to mentor troubled youth and young adults in a nature setting
3. The opportunity to transform and change lives (which is ministry to me)
4. I see this work as a modern form of initiation for youth to find their place in society
5. The emotional, mental, physical and spiritual health benefits for my life (esp. physical & spiritual)
6. The pay is great, along with benefits and the work 8/off 6 schedule

To a degree, I see the wilderness therapy programs as coming full circle in my understanding and calling in life. It's great to get to see how the elements of the vocational path (posted above) all seem to come to a head with wilderness therapy.

More to come...