When You're Offered Everything You Thought You Ever Wanted
Many years ago, as I was about to graduate from seminary, I was presented with what I thought was the opportunity of a lifetime. The 1700-member church I was serving at at the time was in the process of searching for a co-pastor. The chair of the search committee approached me and asked if I would interview for the position. He shared with me that the members of the committee thought I might be the right person for the job. I was overwhelmed by the possibility. My mind raced with thoughts of what such position would mean for me--the prestige, the status, all that went with such a position, and at such a young age, too. But, as I pondered all of the reasons I wanted to say yes, it suddenly occurred to me that all of those reasons were purely selfish. So, (even though it was painful to do so) I said no to the offer. Looking back on how immature I was then, I can't believe I actually turned down that opportunity, despite how w...