I might be odd, but I actually enjoy being evaluated.  I think this is partly because I’m usually my harshest critic, so the critiques that other people bring are rarely surprising.  When people evaluate me highly, however, it’s pleasantly surprising.  I am used, however, to being evaluated on things like, “What did you do for continuing education this past year?”  It’s very likely that I’d resent being evaluated on topics like, “How much money did you raise for us last year?”  Both are specific questions, and both are quantifiable, but the latter treats me like a balance sheet rather than a human-being.

Thankfully, I’ve never been publicly evaluated that way – my psyche would have broken.

Today, I had my annual staff evaluation for ABCNJ, which I found to be an affirming experience.  I typically look at what I failed to accomplish, but the folks doing my evaluation kept pointing out what I managed to accomplish in what amounts to be a side-job.  This was good for me to hear.  The other thing they did was to encourage my creativity (i.e. “playing with toys”) because they’d seen good ideas for ministry come out of that, several of which have already impacted that way we do ministry as a region in ABCNJ.  I thrive on encouragement like that, not because I need to be patted on the back, but because the affirmation of freedom in experimentation, movement, and learning allows me to tie the canvas of things I enjoy together into the type of creative super-ball that makes me excited to try out new things.  I have to say, people are lucky to find one place in their lives that gives them that freedom.  I’m currently in TWO places that afford me that privilege in ABCNJ and Central Baptist – and my greatest boss of all time back at Miles River Middle School gave me that same luxury (hi Judy).  In that, folks, I’m blessed.

So, I’ve been affirmed, encouraged, and told to stop beating myself (which I won’t do, but it’s nice to be told that).  Oh, and I also showed more patience among the less tech-saavy people in the region this year than last – so that’s a nice sign of positive growth (though I do think that has a negative impact on my geek-status, I need to check with the geek lore-masters on that).

So, look out 2010, here I come.