Calling Stories: Keri McDonald's reinvigorated passion in 2020
Welcome to the newest installment of Calling Stories, a refreshed and reimagined series of guest posts for Ordinary Time. In the past two autumns, I’ve hosted a series of guest posts called Work Stories. This year I've reimagined the series to embrace a wider vision of calling and to add some sweet bonus features for my Patreon community. Go here to learn how to join in Calling Conversations with our guest contributors.
The home office
I’m delighted to share an update from Keri McDonald. In 2019, Keri shared the winding road of her work journey: Job History As A Pilgrimage. Her voice and experience supporting non-profit work feel especially important in this series.
In a year that’s tried to only take and never give, I’m giving thanks for the way God’s not only sustained but reinvigorated Keri’s sense of calling this year. Maybe you’ve experienced that too? Maybe it feels a bit strange to receive gifts in a year marked by loss? Keri’s story reminds us all that God’s not limited by our own limitations and that sometimes God does God’s best work in the middle of loss.
Where have you seen unexpected "green lights" for your calling(s) in this season?
Shortly after I participated in the Calling Stories last year, I was at a crossroads in my consulting business. Two of my non-profit clients had recently ended our contracts and I had started looking for full-time jobs thinking that I might have to shutter my virtual doors. I wanted to keep going, but truthfully I wasn’t sure how. I have always felt God’s calling on my life to serve children and families in my community, but I thought maybe this wasn’t the way. Thankfully through the darkness of the pandemic, I’ve received the very clear message of light that this isn’t the case. To my great surprise, my business has grown during this time. A growing client roster has me re-thinking how to manage my time while continuing to learn how to improve my practice.
I’ve also had the great privilege of working with another grant consultant in Arizona, who has been very successful in her business. She has really encouraged my growth and has reinvigorated my passion for what at times can be lonely and isolating work. Being treated as a team member has really refreshed these dry bones and it’s been gratifying to have her support. I was moved to tears when I received a fruit arrangement after a death in the family this summer. What a gift to be cared for in my work after such a long time without it.
I see little lights from God on the daily to continue to pursue this calling even though it continues to be challenging. I’ve recently started working for a child-placing agency in the Houston area and just finished my first grant for them. I’ve been so honored that they chose me to be their grant writer despite having just launched in April and muddling through on dwindling revenues because of COVID. When I heard back from the Executive Director on the approval of my submission, she said, “I am starting to hear your passion for the organization in your writing! Keep up the good work!” I was moved to tears feeling God’s presence covering me with that compliment.
What is something you can no longer do?
There are lots of things that I’ve been unable to do since the pandemic. I’ve dealt with an ever-changing schedule and lots of random demands on my time. Until this week, I have been a “learning coach” to my two boys while they did virtual school. They stayed at home with me in the mornings and then in the afternoons went to their grandparents to finish their schoolwork. This meant a lot of tears (mostly mine) and drama over completing school assignments and frustrating technology issues. It also meant a very compressed amount of time to do my consulting work. Gone are the days of riding my bike to the library or to the coffee shop. I spend most of my time in our study at home while my saint of a husband does his tech job from our mudroom. It is a pleasant change to be able to eat lunch with him every day though!
Now that the kids have returned to school it is a welcome relief in many ways while a hard reality in others. Because of their ongoing exposure at school, we are no longer able to see grandparents in the same relaxed way in our “bubble.” We now mask up and meet outside which may become increasingly difficult as the weather grows colder. But, this is Texas and usually feels like July nine months of the year so hopefully, we’ll be ok. I worry about isolation and loneliness for my parents and especially for my mother-in-law who suffers from dementia. It’s hard not to know what the holidays will look like or how we’ll be able to interact with our first niece or nephew due to arrive in December. It takes a lot of flexibility and at times I admit it’s quite hard to depend on God in these moments of uncertainty. I’m grateful for the steadfastness of my work when everything else continues to feel so upside down.
My desk
Rob’s mudroom office
We can still walk to the candy store!
Keri is a consultant for non-profits and schools in Central Texas and beyond and serves as a board member of the Lone Star Justice Alliance. She and her husband Rob and their two sons live in Round Rock, TX and are members of Church of the Cross in Austin. In her spare time, Keri loves to see random movies, travel, and search for cool old houses in downtown Round Rock. You can learn more about Keri here.
