Are You a Tentmaker?

In late winter I became aware that I had lost some of my joy. I was deceiving myself in saying nothing was wrong.

But I was wrong.

Other people were noticing my change and I had to take a hard look in the mirror and see that I was paying too much attention to myself.

You may think I mistyped. That I was paying too much attention to myself couldn’t possibly be right. Usually people would think you lose yourself by taking your eye off of yourself.

But I lost myself by focusing too much on me.

I’m an accountant by trade. I was working and focusing on what I could get done. I was planning what duties I needed to accomplish. I was fixating on the next tax return I was going to finish.

But I have learned that when I start to stress out, it’s because I’m focusing on what I have to do.

Not on the One who will help me get it done.

So while I was taking a hard look at myself, I noticed my focus was out of whack. I was focusing on what I can get done and not on what I knew He could get done.

No wonder I was stressed, because I only can get through a fraction of all I need to accomplish while He can create the world in 6 days.

I was trying to carry all the weight of the world on my shoulder, while God was standing by saying, “You’re not meant to carry such a load by yourself.”

So it’s been a work in progress with some days going well and other days missing the mark.

I was having lunch with a wise friend and we were discussing faith and work and after one of his questions, it caused me to reflect upon a thought I had earlier in the week.

I am fairly certain Paul’s passion wasn’t being a tentmaker. I’m fairly sure he didn’t fall to sleep thinking of a new way to make a tent. That was just how he paid his bills. His passion was spreading the Gospel message. But he used his tentmaking capabilities to pursue his passion.

I’ve often wondered why I am an accountant. When I take personality and career tests, my career shouldn’t be doing spreadsheets for a living. Yet, this is what I do.

And I am good at what I do.

But am I passionate about it?

My passions fall beyond the arc of tax laws and deductibles.

I feel like I’m Paul in that way. My endorphins don’t spike while setting up a new chart of accounts, but it does reach higher levels talking to someone about their dreams and ambitions. I get rejuvenated when an idea keeps me up at night and I have to play out the actions of the fictional character. I get a second wind hanging out with a group of high school guys at 9 pm after working all day, just so I can pour into them what my mentors poured into me.

So I may be a CPA by trade, but I fulfill my passions in one of many ways.

I laughed at lunch this week, “every time I take those personality tests (I’m a INFJ if anyone cares) it never says you should be an accountant. I’m supposed to be a counselor, a writer, or work at a not for profit. Just as Paul was a tentmaker, I’m a CPA.”

So, are you feeling burned out in life?

Are you tired of hitting the grind everyday?

I’m not saying you need to change jobs, but maybe you need to start doing something you are passionate about a few hours a week.

You may say you don’t have time. But I’m pretty sure you can carve out an hour a week to pursue what God created you for.

You may say your family life keeps you too busy, but who says you can’t include your family in your passion. Who knows, they may enjoy it too.

I talk to many people about their dreams and passions and it seems that everyone lights up when they tell of their idea. But that light quickly vanishes when I ask, so what are you going to do next?

Because as soon as the question is asked, the excuses start coming. The reasons why it’s just a dream and not a reality quickly unbalances the scales.

But if God gave you that dream, He is able to see beyond your excuses and see the possible when all you see are impossibilities.

So, if you’re ready to take the next step, please step out. If you need help, please message me! I will do whatever to help you see that just as God called Paul, He’s calling you too.

God had to blind Paul to get Him to listen. I think some of us have taken up residence and built our lives on Damascus Road instead of following His voice.

I think it’s time to put down that hammer and electric saw and listen for His voice. Take a step off of the sidewalk and follow where He leads. If you follow His voice, He’ll never lead you wrong.

So to all the past tentmakers of the world, thank you for showing the way. I may not know where I’m going some days, but it’s reassuring to see your bootprints in the trail you created.

And that should encourage you as well. You may not see the end of the trail, but there may be some markers on the path directing you where to go next.

Peace

If you need some encouragement, please reach out to me. No matter where you are at, I’m just a visit, text, phone call, or email away.