the Requiest

I just read a short article on forgiveness by Brad over at Challies Community Blog. In the story that Brad tells a woman asks forgiveness from a friend who then says that she’ll have to pray about it because she is really not ready to forgive. The sad thing is when her actions were questioned, others jumped to this womans defense as if praying to the Lord as to whether or not to forgive was some great act of piety… and this was supposed to be a group of Christians.

As Brad says, “…I’m under no delusion about how difficult and sometimes complicated forgiveness can be.“, and neither am I. Forgiveness is a very hard topic for me, because I am so horrid at it. I hold grudges and question peoples intent towards me like a shield of protection. In my twisted way of perceiving wrongs (even unintentional ones), if I don’t show my disdain, hurt and anger then I am being weak and feel that I am opening myself up to more abuse. I didn’t start out writing this as a cathartic self examination of my own short comings, yet that is what this is turning into. As I listen to myself write this, I can’t help but see how pathetic my thoughts and actions are in this arena. Especially in light of all that the Lord has forgiven me for.

I once heard a sermon on forgiving others, an anecdotal story went something like this,

“…so I’m at this party at a friends house and I’m really enjoying my evening. The front door opens and in walks this person I was really hoping I’d not see. This person had really done me wrong the week before and just seeing them made me fuming mad. With furrowed brows and ruby lasers dancing out of my eyes, I glared at them, showing them my anger at them being here. This person then made their way across the room, came right up to me and in greeting shook my hand like nothing was wrong. They then went on their way and appeared to enjoy the rest of the evening while I sat there fuming.”

Now out of this situation who was being hurt most? The person who should have been asking for forgiveness hadn’t a clue that there was anything to ask forgiveness for! In not forgiving others, even if it’s only in our own hearts, we sin in a way that is detrimental to us both spiritually as well as mentally.

Obviously in personally looking at this issue, I have a lot to still take to heart!

May the forgiveness of God, through the atoning sacrifice of our Lord, allow all of us the grace and mercy to forgive our transgressors.

Peace

Well today marks my 2nd week on the Atkins diet. Now before y’all start nay-saying the diet, I AM doing it on my doctors recommendataion. How much do I need to lose? Well I’m just shy of 6 foot and I weighed in this morning at a whopping 258. I’d like to get back down to 210 which used to be my happy weight before getting married a short 8 years ago. Needless to say, marriage has been… delicious

But, I seriously need to get the weight under control. Since my biggest eating problems all have to do with carbs (please pass the bread – again), if nothing else Atkins is helping me to see that I don’t need that bagel every morning, the sandwich on the roll at lunch, and the double helping of rice at dinner. Oh, and let’s not forget the couple of donuts every Sunday during Sunday School; a mainstay at any Presbyterian gathering. (The church should have bought stock in Dunkin Donuts)

Here’s to hoping and praying for another week of being a “good boy”.

I just got back from seeing my new dentist Dr. Forrester. This is the third time I’ve seen him; he’s replacing all my old fillings with the new high tech stuff. With my new job being 35 miles east of the house, seeing the dentist during the week is impossible and since he’s the one dentist in the practice that has Saturday hours, well it’s providential.

But this entry has nothing to do with dentistry, or the fact that in another half hour after the novocaine wears off I’m going to be a hurting pup, no this blog entry is about work. While waiting for the novocaine to set in I had a brief conversation with the doc. We were discussing him having to work on Saturdays and he started talking about how he loves to work on Saturday. He has the entire staff to himself and the run of the office, which means he doesn’t have to work around any other colleagues. He’s “The Man”, in complete control and feels like he get’s more work done. He not only likes to work on Saturdays, he plain likes to work because he likes his job.

I mentioned to him how it took me a long time to finally find a career where I trully enjoy what I’m doing. We both agreed that the one thing we enjoy with our jobs it the immediate gratification that we get from the work that we do. He can see the fruit of his labor at the end of an hour. In the same way I can create a new function or UI design in a short period and get a kick out of seeing it in action.

How many people can say that these days, that they get a “kick” out of what they do? With the constant pressure these days to produce more work during the week and having to work longer hours to do so while at the same time realizing that sticking by your company doesn’t neccesarily mean they’ll stick by you; how many people can honestly say they enjoy what they do? I know there is a seperation here between what you do and who you do it for, but are you happy at work, or do you keep telling yourself it’s just a means so you can provide for yourself or your family?

And what about God? What does He have to say about work? Are we supposed to enjoy our occupations? I know God wants us to do all things for his glory, so we are supposed to do our best. But I also know that after the fall God made the ground a lot harder to work.

Genesis 3:17-19

17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life.

18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.

19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”

How do you look at your work? Is it simply a means to an end or should it be more?