For Wilshire Baptist Church
The announcement of George Mason’s retirement after 33 years as our pastor at Wilshire Baptist Church has me reflecting on two parts of my own life: the pastors I’ve had and the jobs I’ve held.
I’ve really had just four pastors in my 63 years of living. I had three growing up at First Baptist Church in Richardson. I don’t count the two before that who I can’t even name because I was an infant and the family was in transition from Montana back to North Texas. But the three I had in Richardson — Cloud, Landes and Fant — showed me what church looked and sounded like, baptized and nurtured me, and taught me how to listen and pay attention and absorb as much as I could. A great youth minister and the watch-care of my friends’ parents played a huge role in my spiritual growth as well. I also learned the importance of Christian fellowship and “church family” during those years as our family traveled though the sunshine and storms of life.
I don’t count the pastors of churches that I wandered in and out of but didn’t join while in college or working in Waco, nor the pastor I never met in person during my first few years in Dallas. That was my failure, and when a move across town prompted me to visit Wilshire, I made an appointment to meet George, the new pastor, and at least connect a face with a name. There’s too little space here and too few words to adequately describe the impact of my fourth pastor.
George’s 33 years at Wilshire has had me thinking about jobs, because I had always wanted to have a long tenure somewhere myself. I began my professional career at the Waco newspaper and was there just two years before marriage and a move put me at a business magazine published by the Dallas Chamber of Commerce. When I joined Wilshire in 1990, I was holding on to the frayed ends of that job, which had become just part-time in a bad economy. So that day when I met George in his study, I was in the market for both spiritual and career stability.
I found the former at Wilshire, but the latter never quite happened. I freelanced a few years for a number of organizations, then found steady pay with an airline finance magazine, a statewide construction industry magazine and the communications department of a large national engineering firm. But alas, nothing lasted very long; the finance magazine moved to Seattle, the construction magazine wore me out with long hours and low pay, and the engineering firm just flat terminated me.
My last full-time job was in communications with our public transit agency. It was steady and stable and I could still be there today if I wanted to be, but after seven years of “riding the bus” in the same circle with no change in sight, I decided to get off and fend for myself again. Life’s too short to be riding around in circles.
Looking back over the years, I can see that spiritual stability has been more important than financial stability; spiritual growth more vital than financial growth. Having a strong, steady church life has given me the support, courage and faith I have needed to endure the financial uncertainties and emotional whiplashes that job changes can bring. Even more so with major life changes such as illness, death and starting over.
If I have any advice for someone who is facing a big life change including a new career, it would be to stay close to a church that nourishes your spirit, pushes you to grow, and provides avenues to serve others. And if that someone is named George, I’d recommend staying close to Wilshire. It’s a pretty good place to hang out while working on your next big adventure.