In my last post I wrote about distillation and the kernels of character knowledge that come out of that process. I started my retirement journey with a general interest in poverty issues and the political and economic implications of it and have been exploring avenues and relationships that catch my attention. It feels intentional and yet feels like an adventure. To some degree I’m following a quote I heard recently that resonated. It was “if you’re the smartest guy in the room, you’re in the wrong room”. I like that.
Last summer I began volunteering with a non-profit organization called Christians Against Poverty. It’s an organization that provides debt coaching and financial literacy training in partnership with local churches. I think it is a great model in that it gives churches a practical way to walk alongside people that are struggling with debt or money management issues and a level of professional support to stick with them even through the really tough stuff like bankruptcy. Initially my role was that of money coach delivering the money course that my local church was offering but eventually I got involved as a one day a week volunteer at the CAP head office. My goal was to get to know the organization better and find a place to fit in.
I also began volunteering with Indwell, a non-profit organization that develops affordable housing. Their area of focus is people that struggle with mental health issues. The theme of hope and homes really resonates with me. That and the fact that my brother works for Indwell and loves it, and Debbie and I have been supporting the organization for years. It also felt like a good fit because I have a lot of years of high level project management experience, there is an element of politics in getting housing projects approved, and I’ve had experience owning a multi-unit residence that we operated and rented to an organization that supports people with developmental handicaps. So I’ve had a bit of exposure to the sector.
I have been reminded along the way that it is a journey. I’m becoming more and more excited by the adventure, the fact that there are lots of opportunities and I do not have to resign myself to just choosing one path. I am getting involved in small projects at Indwell, building relationships with politicians and leaders in the social housing sector, and working on the second of 5 courses toward my registration as a Real Estate agent (did not see that coming). I still have no idea where I might end up but I am becoming less concerned about the destination. And I’m OK with that. It makes me trust more and continue to look for the subtle whispers of the Spirit that might prompt a move in one direction or the other. And I’ve had some great conversations with a lot of smart people.