I had a job phone interview this morning. Post-interview, I went and walked hard, thought hard. I worked on my whiteboard, this big imaginary board that I carry around in my mind, full of columns and post-its and categories. It fits the length of the sky, so when I’m walking, I prefer walking someplace where I can see the sky. The sky is important to me.
Crazy cakes, I know. Odd Duck.
But in trying to straighten out some of my columns, in trying to put things into perspective, in trying to fight discouragement regarding my current job search—I preached hard to myself about gratitude.
I am grateful for work, I am grateful to work. I am grateful for the jobs I currently have.
In the course of 4.5 hours last night at work at a major Christian Retailer, I got to speak to:
- A theology professor from Regent, about the task of educating people regarding scripture translations
- A hispanic who struggled with English, and yet we were able to find what she was looking for and her gratitude was immense
- A pre-teen who loves to read looking for something different, and I was able to suggest two of my friends who are authors of books for that genre: Dean Briggs and Jenny L. Cote, both fabulous writers.
- A bi-vocational pastor from a small church quite a ways from our store, stopping by to purchase Easter bulletins, which he will then print up and make copies of himself, for Sunday morning
And as a substitute teacher, I am given the gift of accomplishment each and every day that I can successfully step into a classroom, teach on subjects I am unfamiliar with, and somehow maintain classroom control, while attempting to also create a fun learning environment. Somedays I am successful, somedays I am an epic failure.
Scripture has much to say about work. Proverbs is full of words about work. I need to be thankful for the gift of whatever job I have at the moment, and I need to work hard each and every single day at the tasks that are laid before me.