Delaying the future

By John Mai

In my experience with small-talk, it helps to have a fun fact about yourself. The more interesting it makes you seem, the better. For the past few years, my fun fact has been that I grew up near Portland, Oregon. 

Living in Minneapolis, that fun fact tends to be a pretty good attention grabber. (Though, it seems like anyone who isn’t from either Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Iowa is pretty foreign around here). I graduated from Luther College last spring, and the decision to move to Minneapolis was a pretty easy one. Even though it was moving halfway across the country from my hometown, I was staying in the Midwest, which was feeling more and more like home. 

“Was my decision to do a year of service really in my best interest?”

The decision to do a year of service was not so easy. I saw Lutheran Volunteer Corps as an opportunity to get well accustomed to Minneapolis, get good job experience, and meet new people. However, it could also be viewed as an opportunity to be unpreparedly thrown into the work force, live with strangers, and not make any money. 

I think both of these perspectives are valid. Doing a year of service presents both a lot of challenges and, through these challenges, invaluable rewards. Ultimately, the life skills, the compassion, and the connectedness to my community that I have gained from this year-long experience are readying me to springboard into my personal and professional future. 

AT LEAST, THAT WAS the case until this pandemic hit. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have a job at the synod office during the past few months, but I have no idea what the future will hold for me when my program ends. It’s an understatement to say that the job market is taking a hit. Job postings I was interested in have since disappeared. I’ve hoped to put my music major to use by conducting a church choir, but people probably won’t be singing together for a long time. 

“God has led me to my current job at the synod office, and I trust that She will continue to lead me to the next one.”

Last summer saw what is debatably the best job market our country has ever seen, and this summer will be drastically different. It makes me question, “Was my decision to do a year of service really in my best interest?”

In spite of doubt, uncertainty, and not knowing what the future holds, I do have faith that I will land on my feet. God has led me to my current job at the synod office, and I trust that She will continue to lead me to the next one. The future will certainly hold challenges, but these challenges will bring invaluable rewards. Thanks be to God!