As the economy struggles and the outlook remains dim, I am forced to contemplate the career path I’ve chosen.  Without going into too much detail, I have come to the realization that I am not on the right track.  Enough said.

Recognizing that I’m only 20% or so of the way through my working adulthood (pipedreams not factoring into that equation), I recognize that these feelings I have that tell me I’m too deeply entrenched to make a change are a complete farce.

Admittedly, a change of course in my career path is akin to a change in course for a battleship: time consuming and laborious.  But I also am cognizant of the fact that I don’t enjoy what I do – and that, even if I did – physical labor is just not sustainable in the long run.  Something about a law of personal/physical diminishing returns?

I have been unseriously (I’m not entirely certain that’s a real word) contemplating this possibility for a few years, but with the reality of an actual shrink in business from our already-marginal company this year, I have been driven to weigh these matters a bit more seriously.

So… what to do?  I want something that would excite me for work for the next 40 years.  I want something that enables me to apply my gifts, talents, and capacities in a meaningful and fulfilling way.  And as I have considered my options, I realize I am woefully ignorant of my options.  As it stands at the moment, I see only one direction that holds any interest at all.

Teaching.

Taking that realization to the next step, I ask myself, “Self: what would hold my interest for decades on end?” To which I eventually reply, “Self: the ONLY thing that would keep me engaged for that amount of time would be to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

So here I sit, for the moment, ready to look into what track I would need to take to enter the CES (Church Educational System) Program.  I don’t know whether I could achieve my goal, but it’s all that comes to mind at present.