Day in the life

Have you ever had the chance to sit with an almost-believer and explain the big-picture story of God?

It's truly amazing.  It's one of the coolest things you'll ever do.  It's one of the most fulfilling things that I've ever done.

I had a conversation like that today.  I also had a major victory in court today.

I used to feel like I had to choose between the two.  Did I want to be in ministry?  Or did I want to be a great attorney?  Did I want to give my time to teaching, encouraging, and discipling people?  Or did I want to give my time to advocating for those who can't advocate for themselves?

There are a lot of challenges that come with being a minister in the marketplace.  There is the constant pull of many different things from many different directions.  There's the pesky concern about whether you're going to make enough money this month to cover the bills that causes you to take one more case than  you want to just so you have it covered, and the case ends up taking up all your time for months on end.  There's the reality that you don't quite fit in the church or in the world.

But there are some awesome and amazing things that come with being a minister in the marketplace.  There are the unexpected and blessed conversations with a friend whom you've invested in for years.  There are the days when someone asks you how you integrate your faith into your whole life.  There are the times when you get to be there when someone takes that final step into the kingdom of God.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm in the right place.  Sometimes I wonder if I made the right choices or if I should've tried harder to find a different place in the legal world.  But honestly, today I'm full of joy and peace, knowing that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.  I would not trade those conversations for anything in the world.  Not even the things that I think I want most.