I’ve been surprised to identify two things about myself in recent years that I hadn’t uncovered previously:
1. The enjoyment I get out of writing.
That was largely identified through blogging. I’ve documented previously that I entered blogging to give people an inside look to what goes on behind the facades of a church ministry. But as my writing developed I found a sense of satisfaction in written expression and from the feedback I’ve received, an appreciation from my short list of readers. English, though technically not my second language, for all intents and purposes could’ve been my second language. From age 3-17, I was bilingual on a daily basis. The two languages really messed with my head and while I may have slaughtered both equally, my struggles with English were most evident in the classroom. English, grammar and writing didn’t come easily for me for some time, so this new found enjoyment in written expression has been a personal revelation.
2. That I really enjoy, maybe even love, people
My Hagerstown assignment has exposed this to exponential degrees. My heart for people existed previously, but was largely masked and hidden by the role I filled. Being face-to-face with people on a daily basis in Hagerstown has exposed what’s been covered for some 14 years. One, when I don’t interact with a lot people over the course of a shift, I miss the interaction. When I do interact with people, my co-workers comment on the amount of patience I exhibit and the fulfillment I get out of what I do. I really love people to a degree that I hadn’t identified previously.
I wonder what I’ll learn next and how God intends to put these new discoveries to use?