It’s Friday morning, and I’m awake at 7:00 a.m. My dog, Philo, is eager to get out. I tell him not yet, but he seems not to understand. So we get up and it’s still dark outside, cloudy, humid and cool. It’s supposed to be my day off, but I have a golf tournament with one of my church. I’ve never played golf before, so today will be a first.

As I’m enjoying my cups of coffee, I thought of checking this blog that I’ve neglected for the past couple of months. But it’s been a busy couple of months. For the month of August and September, I’ve presided and co-presided over 4 different funerals. I realize that’s part of a pastor’s job, but when a couple of those funerals involved family and friends, it’s more than just a pastor’s job.

I’ve traveled to Washington, D.C. for a board meeting with the General Commission on Religion and Race, and then to Boston where I co-officiated with a Catholic Priest at my niece, Amelia’s wedding to James, an Irish. It was a day of celebration, not just with our family, but to see Catholic and Protestant, Irish and Tongan, both immigrant islanders to the U.S. is an amazing story and blessing. A reflection of unity in diversity. A glimpse of the Kingdom of God.

It was nice and refreshing to be away. But since being back, it’s been endless meetings. The mileage I’ve put in my car is ridiculously not ecologically friendly. I could go on a little more in this area, but I will address that at another time.

Anyway, last week, after being on leave for the past couple of months, I officially resigned from my position with TD Ameritrade after 5+ years. It’s been a great experience dealing with people around the world and Wall Street. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned while working in the industry, is that the world does not sleep, at least not at the same time. And whatever happens here in the U.S. from sociopolitical, geopolitics to various market segments affects the world, and whatever happens around the world affects the U.S., financial or otherwise. The Global Market is cyclical, projecting, hopeful, tempting, doubtful, risky, costly, fearful, volatile, reactionary, and reflectionary.

I surely will not miss working 12 hours overnight. That was a killer to the body, mind, and soul. But the irony is that the overnight schedule afforded me the opportunity and flexibility to attend seminary. Two masters degrees later is not bad for a sleepless islander. While I will not miss the chaos of the market, I will miss the excitement. My series 7 & 63 broker licenses is now a thing of the past. And those 7 hours securities industry exams made my eyes and head hurt.

Now, instead of being asked about the DOW, NASDAQ, and S&P, I get asked about church membership, its offering and ministries. Moving onward and living out a calling in the business of Trust, Faith, Hope, and Love. The church ministry, an exciting, rewarding, yet difficult and lonely place to be at times.

Now excuse me while I go and play golf.