My friend Josh Ingram is what you would call an expert nicknamer. I particularly enjoy his moniker for me, which is ‘The Quartermaster of Hats’. I like the ring of it and I feel like it fits me, but I wasn’t sure why. At the time that I was given the nickname I only owned one hat.
Now, I’ve had several hats, but I can’t seem to keep up with them very well, which would certainly not be a trait of a quartermaster of hats. However, I was thinking about it the other day, and in a metaphysical sense, I do possess many hats. That is to say I ‘wear many hats’, or have many different abilities/interests/roles.
To some people I’m a computer nerd. I am interested in computers, but there are many people who specialize in the technology field to whom I would seem fairly unknowledgeable. To others, I’m a musician. While I do love to play guitar, I’m really not that naturally talented at it, and I have to work really hard to just be decent. I love to write, create videos, and visual art of all kinds in addition to reading, playing nerdy board games (with Jamal), cutting up with friends, and studying theology and the bible. I have as many hobbies as most women have pairs of shoes.
Over the years, I’ve a had a few jobs. In chronological order I’ve been an ice cream preparer, GIS intern, mall kiosk salesperson, pizza delivery driver, window covering installer, bank teller, and until recently the media director for Heritage. And now I must set down that hat and try on a new one.
It is about as easy leaving Dallas as it was to leave my home of Northwest Arkansas, which is to say, not without resignation, fear, anixiety, and uncertianty. However, those feelings are only the rippling surface of a river of hope, excitement, faith, and trust in God. Right now as I register for another year of school, search for new employment, and try to discern where God would have me serve in His church, I can only say: I’m proud of my growing collection of worn in hats and look forward to the next one I will wear.
Note to Slef 