Saturday, November 16, 2013

Walking with God- and veering off His path.

I finally came here again, knowing it's been too long since I last wrote.
I read my last little post and realized, it's been EXACTLY the right amount of time!
Here's why:
I was in a bad frame of mind on that last post.  I complained, I pointed fingers..... Generally, this Christian wasn't......
Now, here's the deal. I pray every day. I ask God to let me "wear Jesus" so I show others by example and so that I'm following the Lord's Great Commandment- " Love The Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your soul". This is the first commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39. NIV
Whew, right? I've been falling far far short. I pray every day and ask God this same thing... Let me wear Jesus today. And it's taken my sinful self a long time, but I'm moving in the right direction.
I'm not patting myself on the back by any means. Any forward progress being made here is the result of The Holy Spirit working in me. Not anything I've done on my own, believe that. Without God, I'm nothing.
I'm getting along with the coworkers. I'm ashamed of my previous post. But I will not take it down. Let it serve as a reminder to me.
To my friends and family who think they know Jesus, I hope you are traveling the same way I am. This is such joy. It's also such hard work. We fall so far short, it's a wonder God can stomach us sometimes. But that's the beauty of God's love for us. It's so gigantic we cannot conceive it.
And aren't we blessed?
Pick up your Bible or a devotional book. Do it daily. It helps put "you" aside and helps you focus yourself. Read a little. Think on it. Pray. Pray. Pray some more.
Then, the hard part. Try to wear it. You'll fail, you'll be ashamed, you'll ask God's forgiveness.
The next day, do it all over again. Keep trying.
It's hard, it's a comfort, it's what we're here for.
God bless us all, please.


Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Work is crap.

Sigh. My coworkers. What do I do? I can't kill them.
Here's my dilemma.
This project was for our local football team.
First and foremost, my job is to sell ads to bring in revenue. So I try to come up with projects that will generate interest for both the readership and the potential advertisers.
I initially was going to publish this project on Sept. 24, after the Buggy Days edition, but Walter decided that we should publish in time for the first home game on Sept. 30. Panic mode ensues....
I had to rush to produce this, and I mean REALLY rush. I lost sleep, I worried, I really physically tore myself up over this.
The week prior to publication, when I questioned the distribution at the first game, I begin running into problems. There's nobody to distribute it, there's no overrun ordered from the printer..... Etc, etc.
I cannot believe all this.....
I nearly walked off the job over this mess.
Our joke of an "office manager", who is totally ineffective, has her usual "well, I don't know" attitude about the entire matter. ( Rachel, my one & only work buddy there, asked me the other day, "Why do you even bother to ask her questions?". Good point......)
So, yesterday Gil helped me to get the papers delivered,  thank goodness, or I never would have managed.
Then I went back to the newspaper at 4:20 pm, where, all by myself, I took 100 newspapers apart so I would have the B section to take over to Shannon Jett from the Gridiron Club. She will have some helpers to pass out the section (again, Walter's idea) so that part of the job is handled, no thanks to anyone else there at that job.
Oh, while Missy was at the post office and Tasha was on the phone, the other line rang so I had to stop pulling papers apart so I could answer the phone. See, Sherri and Nolan apparently cannot be bothered.
All this brings me back to the day 2 years ago, I came back to work after knee surgery and Missy stood outside chatting to a passerby while I struggled with my crutches to load newspapers into my car..... I feel like that single act sums up this particular work environment in a nutshell.
So, as mentioned prior, I have 4.5 years to work. And I don't know if this is the place to do it since this is a collection of self-serving people.
I've asked God to give me an answer to this. However, I only asked Him once.
I need to pray for guidance over this daily. I need to then listen to Him.
Truth be told, I am probably asking God to find me another job and drop in right in my lap. He could certainly do it, but I don't feel this is what I should expect . Although, that would be really nice, God.... Just kidding. Sort of....
I know what to do. Quit fighting what I can't win. Ask God for His assistance and guidance. And be obedient to Him.
Y'all pray for me too, please?

Friday, August 23, 2013

Looking Toward the Future

So, it seems that my job is getting more difficult for me to perform. Am I getting older, therefore having trouble doing my tasks? Am I burning out?
Burn out seems the more likely answer.
I sell advertising in a hometown newspaper.
I keep hearing " I get zero response from advertising in your paper". Well......
I'm 58.5 years old. I have a chronic health condition. I have other interests I'd like to explore.
Hello! Judge Judy in the afternoon! Bike riding around town! Seeing other places in Georgia by car! Flying to other countries! Time to take an adult continuing education class at the local college!
Starting an online luxury goods business!
This cannot be how I will end my days, in a job I dread....
So, Gil stuck his head in my sitting room the other night and said to me, " I think you should retire at 62, start collecting your Social Security, enjoy the next 5 years while waiting for me to finish working, then we' re outta here."
I may only get up 840 more times to go in to a job I dread.
That "light at the end" seems a bit faint at this point. But I know it's out there.
Cool!


Monday, August 12, 2013

Finally! (Hey, where ya' been.)

Sigh.
It's been a long time....
Let's recap:
I've had another knee surgery. This one seems to be more successful. Note to self- nothing good medically comes out of Griffin, GA. Drive another 20 miles and use a better doctor.
My exercise life is poor. I joined a gym/studio but find that getting away from my job to attend a class is very hit and miss. Consequently, I'm at least 15 lbs. heavier than I like to be. My clothing is tight. I don't like this one bit.
More businesses in town have closed. If this country is in a slow economic recovery, Barnesville, GA has not received the memo. I'm having a very hard time selling advertising in our small town newspaper. My thinking now is that I will pull the plug on my work life at 62 and begin collecting Social Security. Hopefully, I can then supplement with a part time job. Something I enjoy. Unlike advertising sales.....
Michael still lives at home. Enough dwelling on that.
Gil was baptized less than 2 weeks ago. Now THAT is some wonderful news, isn't it?
We've been to Santa Fe twice in 2013. Still want to retire there but this will be in God's hands.
Jenna is in school to become an RN for the Navy. In less than 2 years, she will be an Ensign. Can't beat that with a stick,  can we?
And now I need to get in the shower and get ready for work. I have prayed to God this morning for peace. I am at least sleeping now- 3 nights in a row, so perhaps I'm on the mend, at least emotionally.
We had an incident at work last month. THAT deserves it's own thread.