I have been a lurker on RLP for a while now. I'm generally quiet in person too.
I work for Habitat for Humanity and have for over a decade now in one capacity or another. Right now I run a contact center providing technical support to our groups around the US who build houses. I also provide computer and software expertise to field staff.
I have almost always been involved in some form of ministry, but not really much as a pastor. I didn't like that gig. I serve in church on our church board and do some pastoral stuff there. I am on the board of a local health clinic that provides care to anyone regardless of insurance or income.
I am recently separated and soon to be divorced. I have four grown or nearly grown children and am a new grandfather. My grandson, and his parents, recently moved from the farm to a house in town. I miss the little guy (Oh, his parents too)
I live on a hundred acres of wilderness that used to be a farm with my two sons. No domestic livestock, but some deer, wild turkeys and coyotes. We have have been adopted by a couple of cats, as happens on farms around here. They are a bit wild, but getting tamer as they get used to eating around us.
My youngest son is an addict. We're trying to work through it, but it really does use up one's energy and there is a lot of pain. A very good friend told me recently, "That shows that good parents and a faith-filled home doesn't insure anything." I'm not so certain about the good parent part, but I do not believe there is any guarantee of success, even when you do the best you can. We are not in charge, our wishes are not fulfilled all the time, even if we do everything right, which is presuming a bit much.
God understands the big picture and we see a minuscule corner of the canvas. We should probably refrain from assuming that our knowledge or understanding is too complete.
