Wednesday Words Vol. 3

Been a good week here in bubville. What with Gracie's birthday, me doubling up my bankroll, and winning Stacy From Louisville's guess the post contest, it's been very exciting around here. The only downer of course was watching the Chargers get robbed in Denver on Sunday.

The message at Journey was what I needed to hear. It was about bouncing back from snags in the workplace. About how to be o.k. with your job even if it isn't the most glamorous or exciting job in the world. It was about how God has a plan for you in whatever work it is that you do. God wants to reveal himself as a provider to us.

I don't have the most glamorous or highly sought after position in the job market. I'm an overnight associate at one of the largest employers in the world. I don't want to type it's name because they are pretty tough about their employees talking outside of the walls but it rhymes with "Fall-fart." I'll give you three guesses.

Compared to what I used to do, working at fall*fart is like jumping off of a cliff. Financially AND glamor wise. I used to run a company that had 40 people under me. Now I have, oh let's see, me.

Why, you ask? What would make me leave what I had been successfully doing for 15 years? There's only one answer. The Lord came and messed up my life. I couldn't do the things that I used to do to make money. I was a salesman. At one time one of the best in my little industry. Check it out. This is important. God took away my hustle. I couldn't do it anymore. It became pointless to me. Before, I was a stone cold closer. Now, I can't close a door.

I think the reason it happened is because God truly wants something better for me. The people that I worked with and associated with for the last 15 years are a tough bunch. Maybe the best description of them would be hard-livin' folk. I believe that God wanted to take me out of that life and deliver me to a new one. Even now, it's hard for me to put into words what my life was like, especially the last 5 or 6 years of it. How about it was a really tough way to make an easy living.

I didn't know what to do. I couldn't do my job anymore. I didn't even WANT to do it anymore. I don't know if it was burnout or God moving me to do something different. I'd like to think it was God. I had to find a way to make an honest living. I swallowed my pride and gulp! applied at Haul*kart. I will tell you this. The day that they hired me it was like a black cloud had been lifted from my head. I felt free. Sometimes God knows what He's doing even when I don't.

It hasn't been easy. I don't make a lot of money. It's tough, physical work. I've already broken my hand once out of my own stupidity. Here's the thing though. I love it.

Why? Because it gives me the opportunity to be an example of how I believe God wants us to live life. For the first time in my life, I go to work knowing that God is right there at my side. To truly not just say the words "The Lord will provide" but to believe and live them. To work hard and be the best employee I can be even when no one is looking. It's harder than it sounds. I think that's the deal me and God have though.

Would I like to do something different eventually? Probably. God hasn't taken me there yet so I guess there's still more work to do at doll*part. Here's another cool thing. I see me rubbing off on other people. Of course, I can't quantify it, but I think the people I work with seem to smile more, are friendlier and work harder around me. That's like seeing God in action, it's wild stuff!

God, thank you for the opportunity to be a difference wherever I'm at. Thank you for taking me out of the mental and spiritual bondage that I was in and delivering me into a completely different world. Let me continue to be a light to those around me and to keep bringing glory to Your Name. Amen.