Up until now I've had three jobs in my career. I fell into the first one when I was in Seminary and became pastor of a church that nobody wanted. In Louisville's inner city, the congregation consisted of three little old ladies who were too tired to go looking for a proper minister so they chose me.
"We want you to be our minister," Buna Wynn told me with a Bible in one hand and a Maxwell House coffee can in the other.
"I don't want to be," I replied wearing blue jeans and a football jersey.
"Tough," she shot back spitting tobacco juice into the can.
"I've never preached a sermon," I protested.
"Can't be any worse than some of the crap we've already had to sit through," she answered while putting one hand on the butcher knife she kept in her apron.
"OK," I said and that's how I became a professional Christian.
Eight years later I left in controversy but the church was strong with hundreds coming every day for something and there was money in the bank.
Then I was the Executive Director of the Louisville Coalition for the Homeless. I hated it. It was mostly administrative and sitting in meetings with government people which is like spending your entire day listening to a Vice-Presidential debate. You're ready to slit wrists!
Rather than resign my son and I got in a terrible wreck in another state and never went back.
After that I was President of Union Mission for a couple of decades. We did a lot of good stuff, became a multi-million dollar company and was widely recognized as the best and most efficient homeless program in the nation.
It was fun until one day it wasn't anymore. I gave it everything I had and they took it so I left ... and went to work on me.
Over the past couple of years, I've piddled in other things. I consulted and got to hang out with all of the other consultants in airports. That was nice.
I spent several months helping the Street Medicine Institute get its act together spending most of my time with the famous Dr. Jim Withers in airports and hotel rooms when we weren't in the woods or under bridges where too many Americans live.
It's one of the reasons I love America. We build bridges so that people can have a roof over their head. We're very economical that way.
Now it's time to get back to what I do best ... helping others help themselves. With great partners we're launching a new company ... Let Us Tell It. Check it out at www.letustellit.com, on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube or by staring at the stars at night.
I woke up early today, excited about all of the things I need to get done. Staring at the stars while hot water rained on me in the outdoor shower, I felt good.
And for the first time in a long time ... ready to get to work.
