Really Good Training

I have started a second job to get me through my already pretty busy week. I started about a month ago, and it's not bad. I mostly sit and read (which is pretty much my goal in life some days). Time moves slowly, and I am able to get some things accomplished as well as meet lots of new and, sometimes, interesting people.

What new jobs mean, though, is always the unavoidable training. And this job is no exception. I hate training. I can stand training for the tasks I need to know that I have no prior knowledge of, thats fine and expected. But what I realyl cannot stand is the training on the obvious things. Well, the obviou things to me. Such as how to talk to people, or how to be polite. My mama didn't raise no fool, I guess.

Since I've had so many jobs and have watched countless hours of training video, i think I've become quite the judge of what distinguishes excellent training from the mediocre, or even poor. And here's the key: They make it seem as though this job is your life's calling! That this job, as opposed to all the others you've had or would even want to find, is the epitome of all life's experiences and that you've made it! Awesome, congratulations.

It's been garnered as such because, I know, we as humans feel like our worth is in our work, and who doesn't want to find that place that you've been looking for? Here is where you will find your purpose, your true calling. It's clever marketing on these company's parts, you have to give them credit.

But I wonder how many actually buy into this? I sat in a room with people who have held more jobs in the last year than I have all my life, no matter how comparatively brief.

My life's calling, who made me and what he has for me, cannot be separated from where He has blessed me to work. It's seeing my work as a blessing that allows me to do my job well, no matter what the task. Right?

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

C. S. Lewis

Claire the Evangelist?

I don't know if my daughter will ever roam the wilderness, or eat locust, or wear anything camel (as I don;t hink it will match her high heels), but I can definitely be aware of this jewel who does truly care for her friends. She asks amazing questions about faith, and my faith, and questions the language that we use, and why we do some things and not others. And she loves the story fo Jairus's daughter... its the only story she ever wants to hear. She is encouraging and astounding, amazing and challenging. Do I care as much as her?

Last night, she had a friend over. If she just read that she would correct me; her best friend. She loves this little girl dearly and has concern for her and asks where she is and if she will see her this week. Claire is never satisfied when we have to tell her no, or we'll call but things just don't work out. But last night, the stars were aligned, I guess, because they played and played and played until her friend had to leave, which left my daughter sad and a little heartbroken because their time was up.

What amazes me is the substance of their play. My daughters, both of them, love to play house, or to play doctor, or chef... as long as they are taking care of someone they are happy. Ecstatic and satisfied would also be good words to describe their play. And last night was a scene of sadness as my oldest tried to care for what she thought was the primary concern of her best friend.

Her friend does not come to church regularly, or in any noticeable pattern. Of course, she is too young to drive herself, but her mom is sick sometimes, or she is sick sometimes, so sometimes church gets missed. Claire is sad when she walks into her classroom and does not see her friend, or she does not show-up at any point. And she'll ask why, and we'll tell her what her what her friend's dad has said, or just that we're not sure if we're not sure. Adn we leave it at that. She will, every once in a while say how she wishes her friend would come to church.

So, last night, Claire played mommy while her friend switched between playing a cat, a dog, and the child. Claire would turn to her friend and say the following, whenever her friend would leave her sight and then come back (either in the room and then back out, or in one of the Dora tents), "There you are. I was so worried. I thought you were dead because you were not in church this morning."

Sometimes the phrasing would change, but that would be the general statement. "There you are. I was so worried. I thought you were dead because you were not in church this morning."

I have no doubt that Claire is generally concerned... her friend's name is perpetually on her lips. But I wonder where this notion comes from that her friend could possibly be dead that she is not coming to church. It seems harsh on my ears, what could be a great level of condemnation... one that Heather and I greatly shy from (running away from may be a better term. I don't think I've ever considered dead anyone who does not come to church. I hate some of the language that we use as ammunition to back our claims that we are right and that somehow settles it). Knowing my daughter's heart, and her mind, I have no doubt that the concern for her friend is genuine, adn beyond words. She wants her friend to be in church. And it may just be for the selfish reason that she alone would get to hang out with her friend one day more than normal. Or could it be that she really thinks of her friend as dead when she's not there.

Either way. Amazing.

Sub Quote of the Day

These are words I never thought I would ever say. But you can never be too sure what you'll have to address during your day as a sub...

"Please, stop flirting during the holocaust movie."

and so it is,

So, there is a lot going on in my world as of late... not at all bad.  It just seems like I'm never home.  I actually look forward to waking up in bed with me wife, and two girls, because it feels normal, and not forced.  I did get a second job, but it is only for a season, 'til we can get out of the little financial slump we are in, and that I'll be home again.  

And that's all I ever want.