So, recently a lot of things have been changing at work. Currently I work part-time at a small law firm in Greenville. The changes have been for the good and I've taken the world by surprise apparently. I guess it's one thing to know something about yourself and another to show something about yourself. I was given one, what I thought small, project and the entire course of my position has drastically changed. I am so happy and surprised! And I'm kind of feeling somewhat like Esther probably did in learning how to please the king and going through a year of beauty treatments. This experience for me though did not require me to be pampered, sadly enough.
I have only been back in Spartanburg for about two weeks and already I've been learning so many things. And I'm beginning to embrace things that I never thought I would. It's cool to experience that change in my heart and even cooler to see the response of others when they see the change. A few things that I'd been fighting: 1) growing up. Last year in my heart I was fighting settling into a job...dumb...or settling anywhere. I thought my world was ending, that I was too good for a 9-5 job, that I wasn't meant for a 9-5 on and on stubbornly, to a fault. This resulted in some unfortunate yet redeeming discipline from the Lord and my boss. 2) any hint of materialism, again, stubbornly. This was fleshed out in refusing to buy or wear any type of "adult/professional" clothing items or most anything really that seemed frivolous. That did teach me discipline in some ways though. 3) believing that God truly is sovereign over my life, even my sin and mistakes. Psalm 139...
Here is what I learned...
Grace is the capacity to change.
Extremism is sinful if it is isolating, offensive, and from a stubborn refusal to accept where you are in life or what is in front of you.
Life is ever changing and if your world is crumbling and you find yourself desperate, God is quite possibly stripping away something that was occupying too much of your heart and mind and wants to fill the void of it's absence with his presence.
Finances and budgeting are difficult!
The business world is a tough game and the harder you play the more respect you get. (this is the newest lesson. I'm as green as they come right now, ha). But keep it clean!
Pursue the things you've dreamed of with all you have and trust God with every step.
Don't hold on to your desires so tight that you can't let them go. Just because the desire is there for something or someone doesn't mean you deserve that thing or person. (that was a hard lesson) And if God fulfills a desire of your heart, be ever so thankful. It is a sweet gift that He should care for the desires of our hearts.
Don't try to take more than what He has given and blessed you with or it will be spoiled. Look what happened to the manna of the Israelites if they tried to collect more than what they needed for that day! eek!
There is soo much more I say now but it's too late and I'm thinking of entertaining ways to tell of the events at my job. Believe it or not, despite it's small size it is a happening place =).
- Good night-
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Toddler time...
Biggest Loser season premeire tonight at 8pm. I plan to watch. This was probably the only show that I made a point to watch last year. Mainly because my friends and roommates hung out during this time and worked out before the show. We did the Julian Michaels body shred. I always felt more compassion for the contestants after doing the body shred. Julian is intense on a DVD. I can't imagine her in real life, with 300 plus pound on me too!
Today I spent three hours of my life watching two year olds. I never thought I would be a "teacher", if you can call it that, of two year olds. I tried to read a book to them for our lesson but their attention span is about as long as their little feet are big. The mind of a two year old is funny. They are just starting to perceive things. I'm always so focused on moving to the next thing on the schedule though while I'm working with them. I guess that's what I'm supposed to do. But I realize that as I focus on keeping with the schedule for them my patience for unforseen things such as scrapes, bumps, or boo-boos is small. My compassion level also decreases some too. Small fears of one day being a Mrs. Trunchbull type mother creeped into my mind today when one of the boys scraped his knee on the playground and one of the girls walked right into a metal post. Both of them began shedding tears swollen from pain, missing their mommie, who each one desperately wanted in that moment. I have to say that my heart did not melt with compassion for either of them. Not to say that I didn't feel compassion or try to comfort them because I did, but I knew they would be okay. But to the injured toddlers it was the end of the world. The pain came suddenly for them, disturbing their peaceful world of sandbox playland and toddler talk. They did not seem to understand that it would pass nor that the injury was very small.
I certianly couldn't be a mom now, and don't really want to be right now. How Mrs. Dugger does/did it I'll never know. Caring for children in a good way, a way in which you love them and they love you back, etc. is definitely a calling.
Today I spent three hours of my life watching two year olds. I never thought I would be a "teacher", if you can call it that, of two year olds. I tried to read a book to them for our lesson but their attention span is about as long as their little feet are big. The mind of a two year old is funny. They are just starting to perceive things. I'm always so focused on moving to the next thing on the schedule though while I'm working with them. I guess that's what I'm supposed to do. But I realize that as I focus on keeping with the schedule for them my patience for unforseen things such as scrapes, bumps, or boo-boos is small. My compassion level also decreases some too. Small fears of one day being a Mrs. Trunchbull type mother creeped into my mind today when one of the boys scraped his knee on the playground and one of the girls walked right into a metal post. Both of them began shedding tears swollen from pain, missing their mommie, who each one desperately wanted in that moment. I have to say that my heart did not melt with compassion for either of them. Not to say that I didn't feel compassion or try to comfort them because I did, but I knew they would be okay. But to the injured toddlers it was the end of the world. The pain came suddenly for them, disturbing their peaceful world of sandbox playland and toddler talk. They did not seem to understand that it would pass nor that the injury was very small.
I certianly couldn't be a mom now, and don't really want to be right now. How Mrs. Dugger does/did it I'll never know. Caring for children in a good way, a way in which you love them and they love you back, etc. is definitely a calling.
Full Days
Today, a full day; tomorrow, a full day. I love having full days. I'm a person who enjoys having something "next" to do; something to look forward to. Don't get me wrong, however, I enjoy those occasional, rare, jewels of a day days where I have nothing to do but to sleep and relax. =) Full days for me though also equal a full mind, a full "to-do" list and often in need of a full tank of gas. At least until March I will be driving from Spartanburg to Greenville each day. This is a trip that I've come to enjoy however and look forward to sometimes. Thirty minutes of just sitting isn't too bad. I can wake up, or pray, or sing, or just think. Think about my full day ahead of me!
*Joke of the Day:
How do you spot Adam and Eve at a costume party? (ignoring the fact that they are wearing fig leaves/garments of skin)
They have no navel!*
Tonight at bible study we talked about imago dei, the image of God. I am an image of God. You are an image of God. Some of us shine more brightly than others I think but all are images of God. We talked about how in ancient Egypt's time Pharaoh would declare his authority and remind the people of his lofty position by having statues made in his image and how through creation, and us, God does this too.Except He did it first, before Pharaoh.
We talked about how man finds joy in being productive, in working. I find this true in my own life. I find great joy when I am being creative, in big or small ways. I find great joy when I see my creative ideas come to fruition, especially when the end result is how I had imagined or planned it. This joy is evidence of being made in His image - the joy of being a creator; a producer of something. What a great gift too. At work lately I've been blessed with this joy and I'm so thankful for it.
Adam and Eve had no navel because they were created in full maturity and perfection. Interesting, huh?
p.carrick
*Joke of the Day:
How do you spot Adam and Eve at a costume party? (ignoring the fact that they are wearing fig leaves/garments of skin)
They have no navel!*
Tonight at bible study we talked about imago dei, the image of God. I am an image of God. You are an image of God. Some of us shine more brightly than others I think but all are images of God. We talked about how in ancient Egypt's time Pharaoh would declare his authority and remind the people of his lofty position by having statues made in his image and how through creation, and us, God does this too.Except He did it first, before Pharaoh.
We talked about how man finds joy in being productive, in working. I find this true in my own life. I find great joy when I am being creative, in big or small ways. I find great joy when I see my creative ideas come to fruition, especially when the end result is how I had imagined or planned it. This joy is evidence of being made in His image - the joy of being a creator; a producer of something. What a great gift too. At work lately I've been blessed with this joy and I'm so thankful for it.
Adam and Eve had no navel because they were created in full maturity and perfection. Interesting, huh?
p.carrick
Sunday, September 19, 2010
New Beginnings
Welcome to my blog! This is like only one of four, I believe, that I have started in my short lifetime. Maybe this time I'll keep this one up??
I've called this blog "New Beginnings" because 1) it's the beginning of a new blog. 2) I'm in a new beginning phase of life - and I'm kind of liking it.
My first year out of college was rough. People told me that it was going to be hard but I really had no clue. Despite my earnestness to believe them and prepare for it all, it still came down to me just having to experience it to really know that it was going to be rough. My whole life changed. Everything that was familiar was left behind to pursue the next stage of life. Well, it turned out to not really be a next stage, in the sense of a stage of arrival - like a sweet job or marriage or something like that. The stage was simply one of transition...one of learning, stretching, and general uncomfortableness...
Well, that year, or season, is over now and a new one is beginning. I would like to welcome this new season, knowing that new doesn't always mean awesome. But whatever this new season brings I would like to welcome it.
~ p.carrick ~
I've called this blog "New Beginnings" because 1) it's the beginning of a new blog. 2) I'm in a new beginning phase of life - and I'm kind of liking it.
My first year out of college was rough. People told me that it was going to be hard but I really had no clue. Despite my earnestness to believe them and prepare for it all, it still came down to me just having to experience it to really know that it was going to be rough. My whole life changed. Everything that was familiar was left behind to pursue the next stage of life. Well, it turned out to not really be a next stage, in the sense of a stage of arrival - like a sweet job or marriage or something like that. The stage was simply one of transition...one of learning, stretching, and general uncomfortableness...
Well, that year, or season, is over now and a new one is beginning. I would like to welcome this new season, knowing that new doesn't always mean awesome. But whatever this new season brings I would like to welcome it.
~ p.carrick ~
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