Earlier this month, the Christian Science Monitor reported the findings of a General Social Survey by the National Organization for Research at the University of Chicago. The survey came back with what they determined to be the “Happiest Jobs”. (http://www.csmonitor.com/CSM-Photo-Galleries/In-Pictures/The-10-happiest-jobs)
It’s an interesting collection of jobs. At number 10 are Operating engineers. These are the people who get to play with giant toys like bulldozers, front-end loaders and the like. They are very employable as there always seem to be jobs for these folks, and they also seem very happy.
At number 9 are Financial Service Sales agents. They make good money, the work in a comfortable office environment, what’s not to like about that?
At number 8 are psychologists. You get to help people, and you get paid for it. Seems like a nice perk!
Number 7 give us artists. Sure many of them don’t make much money from it, but being able to express yourself artistically gives a great amount of pleasure it seems.
Coming in at number 6 are teachers. Working with, educating and enabling our next leaders must be a great job.
It’s interesting that at number 5 we find special education teachers. This, I believe is a special calling for people, to work with special needs children. I also believe it is truly a special blessing to be able to work with them.
Number 4 surprised me a bit. It’s authors. Like artists there is a great amount of satisfaction in being able to express yourself creatively, but knowing a few authors, I might think the pressing deadlines some publishers put on their authors might have dropped them lower. Apparently I don’t know what I’m talking about.
At number 3 are physical therapists. I can agree with this one as I have a couple of good physical therapists for friends and they do love their work.
Number 2 is an interesting one. Firefighters. I know it’s stressful, it’s physical, but they love it. Who’s to argue?
Number 1 I’m a big fan of. At the top of the list for happiest jobs are clergy. As you look over the list you see a lot of them have to do with working with people, being helpers. Add to it that we see it as a calling in our lives so we can live out what God is calling us to do and I think you can see why it’s up there.
But there are happy people in every aspect of work and life. It doesn’t matter if you’re clergy, or a doctor, a teacher, if you deliver mail or pick up garbage. What matters is, you find what you love, and you do it. You find what special gifts God has placed in you, and you exercise them to the best of your ability.
What has God blessed you with? What skills and passions has God placed in your heart and hands? How might you fulfill your calling as a Christian in the world?
Your job might never make it to the top of the “Happiest Jobs” list, but you might not dream of ever doing anything else. God can use you wherever you are. Living out your God-given calling doesn’t mean you have to stand in the pulpit every week. It doesn’t mean you have to write books or songs.
Living as God calls you to live simply means letting God guide you where you are. Letting your ministry be whatever it is you are doing right now.
How is God using you today?