If I had no time or budget limitations, I could probably pass all of my days working on do-it-yourself projects around the house. To me, it doesn't really matter what the project is - big or small - as long as it's moderately creative and will make a noticeable improvement (that is to say, I don't like changing light bulbs or servicing the lawnmower.) I wouldn't want to build a house, but I love to take on small tasks - especially when I have someone to share them with.

For some reason, when I think about ministry, I forget that I'm happy doing small things. This was particularly true when I was a pastor. It's not that I believed certain responsibilities at the church were below me. Rather, the problem I had was being unsatisfied with progress that was too small or unspectacular. I didn't want to invest my time in the couple who lived next door to the church but never attended; I wanted to grow our congregation from 20 to 200 in a month. I wasn't content planting flowers outside the church ...