I can't love this enough. I ended up sheetrocking, metal framing and mudding after 8 years in various "ministry" vocations and owning my own contracting business. I learned something new every day for the past 42 years doing construction and handyman work. And yeah... I pretty much make in a day what I used to bring home in a week working as a guidance counselor for a school. And yeah, my kids all regret not taking me up on working for me in the summers now that they are homeowners..... Oh well, lessons are expensive. HA!
It’s a much better way to make more money, faster, and without debt; it is morally, intellectually, and spiritually forming if practiced with some intention; it gives you the opportunity to order the material word in meaningful ways.
I wish I’d learned from my dad when I was younger. I’ll probably write on that at some point lol But I’m glad I still have him and that I’m paying attention to his lessons now.
Really appreciate this post! I am moving into being a plumber soon! I currently work at a school and teach a lot about hard work! Awesome to see another proponent for the trades and especially someone is willing to talk about it!
My MAN. Listen, I’ll help you with this transition however I can. Email me if you have questions or if there’s anything I can do: oblatenate@gmail.com.
Man, love it -- what a great story, can't wait to hear more!
Myself, when I got to the end of college -- as a philosopher major -- I was so desperate for something real, that I actually enlisted in the Army (didn't work out; its own long story) -- but have finally come to the even more real, which, instead of blowing things up, is growing things, co-creating a flourishing world with the One in whose image we are. I see plumbing as part of that -- helping orchestrate the flow of water, to help people grow.
Really enjoyed this! I’m a therapist with several adolescent and young adult clients, some of whom are considering careers in the trades. Definitely passing this along.
Oh that’s so exciting! I hope it serves as a worthwhile consideration for them. I have another piece I’m working on right now (should be posted in the next couple of days) on WHY one might consider the trades beyond life leading them that way, merely for a steady paycheck, etc.
I’m officially a fan! I’ve only read two of your posts but it’s obvious you’re flat out an engaging, thoughtful writer. This really resonates with me because I too was involved in pastoral work but have ended up as a blue collar worker. Not a tradesman, I work for Cintas, so it’s service oriented. But still I find this very relatable. I listen to a lot of intellectual podcasts and read great books and all of that and all of it holds great value, but so do blue collar workers. I love when I come across blue collar workers so articulate and interesting. It doesn’t happen as often as it can or should.
You’re such an encouragement, Daniel! Thank you! I wonder sometimes at why that’s the case, that more blue collar folks aren’t also readers/thinkers/writers. It’s probably any number of things, but I think at least part of it is a bit of buying into the “manual laborers are dumb” stereotype which becomes a type of self-fulfilling prophecy. And perhaps because blue collar culture (if I could speak of it as a monolith) doesn’t find it helpful or valuable. I hope to help change that, if I can.
I can't love this enough. I ended up sheetrocking, metal framing and mudding after 8 years in various "ministry" vocations and owning my own contracting business. I learned something new every day for the past 42 years doing construction and handyman work. And yeah... I pretty much make in a day what I used to bring home in a week working as a guidance counselor for a school. And yeah, my kids all regret not taking me up on working for me in the summers now that they are homeowners..... Oh well, lessons are expensive. HA!
It’s a much better way to make more money, faster, and without debt; it is morally, intellectually, and spiritually forming if practiced with some intention; it gives you the opportunity to order the material word in meaningful ways.
I wish I’d learned from my dad when I was younger. I’ll probably write on that at some point lol But I’m glad I still have him and that I’m paying attention to his lessons now.
Really appreciate this post! I am moving into being a plumber soon! I currently work at a school and teach a lot about hard work! Awesome to see another proponent for the trades and especially someone is willing to talk about it!
My MAN. Listen, I’ll help you with this transition however I can. Email me if you have questions or if there’s anything I can do: oblatenate@gmail.com.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment!
Man, love it -- what a great story, can't wait to hear more!
Myself, when I got to the end of college -- as a philosopher major -- I was so desperate for something real, that I actually enlisted in the Army (didn't work out; its own long story) -- but have finally come to the even more real, which, instead of blowing things up, is growing things, co-creating a flourishing world with the One in whose image we are. I see plumbing as part of that -- helping orchestrate the flow of water, to help people grow.
Thanks, dude! There’s plenty more to tell. My life has been...odd lol
Sounds like God has taken you on an equally twisting journey. It’s not easy, but it’s interesting!
I have some reflections on plumbing and how the reflect the interior life. I’ll have to write them up at some point.
Really enjoyed this! I’m a therapist with several adolescent and young adult clients, some of whom are considering careers in the trades. Definitely passing this along.
Oh that’s so exciting! I hope it serves as a worthwhile consideration for them. I have another piece I’m working on right now (should be posted in the next couple of days) on WHY one might consider the trades beyond life leading them that way, merely for a steady paycheck, etc.
Krista, here’s the follow up piece I mentioned:
https://open.substack.com/pub/thebluescholar/p/a-career-of-choice?r=29ahd9&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Can’t wait to read and pass along!
I’m officially a fan! I’ve only read two of your posts but it’s obvious you’re flat out an engaging, thoughtful writer. This really resonates with me because I too was involved in pastoral work but have ended up as a blue collar worker. Not a tradesman, I work for Cintas, so it’s service oriented. But still I find this very relatable. I listen to a lot of intellectual podcasts and read great books and all of that and all of it holds great value, but so do blue collar workers. I love when I come across blue collar workers so articulate and interesting. It doesn’t happen as often as it can or should.
You’re such an encouragement, Daniel! Thank you! I wonder sometimes at why that’s the case, that more blue collar folks aren’t also readers/thinkers/writers. It’s probably any number of things, but I think at least part of it is a bit of buying into the “manual laborers are dumb” stereotype which becomes a type of self-fulfilling prophecy. And perhaps because blue collar culture (if I could speak of it as a monolith) doesn’t find it helpful or valuable. I hope to help change that, if I can.
You found the career you wanted, and so did I. And believe me, it wasn't in the direction that I thought it would be.
Maybe I should write an article about what I do for a living, but it's not really suited for my fiction/fantasy stack.
If only I could guest write for someone else's stack, one that's more to do with careers....
Oh well, a man can wish.