"Tell us something about yourself beyond what we can learn from your resume.”
I’m intimidated by this directive because there is always a fine line between “Tell us something about yourself” and “She is clearly insane and that was over-sharing.” I always hope to skate that line but stay firmly on the “she is quirky but mostly normal” side. Sometimes I fail.
I decided to start with the basics, so I wrote:
Not everyone is blessed by my sense of humor. This is a lesson it has taken me years to learn. My ability to find the funny in most situations is a gift for me but can be a real challenge for others especially when they aren’t able to see how humor could be helpful. Slowly, I am learning to hold my tongue when I sense that playfulness is not going to be well received. It doesn’t keep me from thinking it and so I spend a significant amount of time cracking myself up with thoughts and comments I wouldn’t dare share with the rest of the crowd. It’s really funny inside my head. You should visit sometime.
Finally, I’ll share that every so often I fantasize about finding another vocation. I love, love, LOVE the church I serve and appreciate my calling with a passion and still, sometimes, I daydream about doing something else with my life that wouldn’t require night meetings or early Sunday mornings or the virtual target that clergy seem to wear that makes people think it is ok to say whatever they want to us.
“No, really, I didn’t know that I was singing off key on that last song, but thanks for telling me. And yes, next year I’ll try to remember that this stole makes my butt look big...and Merry Christmas to you too....”
Oops.
That was the line, wasn’t it?