Sometimes I think I may work too much. Then there are days where I feel like I am being lazy. It's a bit of a rollercoaster. To begin, I work several jobs. First and foremost I am a full time pastor of Maple Valley The Rescue Church of the Nazarene. Being a full time pastor not only means putting in time to study, read, research, and prepare sermons, it also includes the day to day operation of a non-profit. While our church is small, it still requires a great deal of time and energy, including being on call. Emergencies and family crisis do not happen on a 9-5 schedule.
Being also bi-vocational, I have to balance, and manage, my time wisely. I work two - three days a week, for a local farm doing deliveries, based on the season of the year. More work at harvest time than there is during the rain and snow seasons. Days can be short, wrapped up by noon, or they can run long with deliveries taking me into the city, meaning that I get caught in traffic on my way back in the afternoon/evening.
Those jobs are easier to calculate the time, with being a pastor requiring more flexibility and adaptability. I will be honest I am blessed by having a wife who not only supports my call, but encourages me, and understands the demands. Having her support makes a great deal of difference when days are hard.
The place where it is hardest to account for time is here, Wild Hills Farm. My wife and I started this small business as a means to provide both quality pasture raised eggs, as well as, eventually become self sufficient through this business. We've been working at it for a few years. Someday we hope to have much more land so we can grow and expand, but I digress.
Being a small business owner means that you are the go to person for everything. My wife and I share duties here on our small farm, and we try and balance the load. I tend to do more of the maintenance and upkeep, combined with caring for the birds. My wife tackles the other half of caring for the birds, and almost all of the sales for our eggs (I just built the mini farm stand).
Being the only two who manage this place means that after a long day at church, or doing deliveries, when I get home and find that the roof of a coop is collapsing in and needs repair, I am your guy. Did I mention that it was collapsing due to torrential down poor, and that I had to do the repairs in the dark. It would be easy to complain, however, this is exactly what I signed up for, to be the boss and become self sufficient.
The biggest lesson for today was that when I originally built that coop, I knew the roof wasn't the greatest, and would likely lead to needed repairs down the road. The easy route three months ago, meant more work today. Next time, I'll try to work smarter and hopefully save myself the added work, but, hey, I only have one person to blame, right?!?!
All in a days work