So I have worked four days now at this new part time job as a tutor at a local learning center. Day one was rough as I expected. Day two was worse than rough – didn’t expect that – considered quitting. Day three was much better. Day four was the best. I hope I have slid into a trend. I think it will be a great part time job.
It has been exactly a week since I dressed like a cow twice in one day for the purpose of getting a free meal. The answer to your question is “yes”. I have no shame. Last year, I refused to bend and thus refused to dress like a cow while my family did. This year was different. I agreed to go through with it, as a favor to my wife. But having now walked away from what I thought might be a disaster for my pride, I can report that I have a change of heart. I actually enjoyed the experience. Who knows, maybe next year I’ll even sing a song like my wife and children did this year. Baby steps.
I had the awesome privilege of baptizing my youngest daughter today. Praise the Lord!
I have had some time today to read the first portion of the book of Jeremiah. I have read the first 7 chapters today, and a theme surfaces to me rather forcefully. It seems that the LORD communicates to the people of Israel that they have forgotten about HIM, and that they have put artificial gods in the place that is rightfully HIS. He tells of a coming judgement as retribution for their unchecked behavior.
We know from history that GOD held true to HIS promise, and that judgement did come.
I think too often in my life I have read something like this in Scripture and I have made that sound to myself that we make when we look at someone else and say, “It’s a pity they’ve done this to themselves. Why can’t they just listen to GOD, and do what HE says?”
The better and more appropriate reaction would be to confess to GOD that we are in the same place as those Israelites. That we have wandering hearts, too. How much easier things would be if I would just do this every day. If I would just take this Book as from HIS heart to mine, and agree with HIM on this issue – I have forgotten HIM, and confused my longing for HIM with a longing for “other things”.
We can say, “Those Israelites didn’t have a lick of sense! All they had to do was return to HIM!” But reality strikes our own heart down like a lightning bolt strikes a rotted tree. We are wanderers. I am a wanderer.
Daily I must return to HIM from the far country where I have retreated. The verse in Jeremiah 7:3 reminds me of what I must do:
Amend your ways and your doings…
I’m not so sure what is around the next corner. Neither am I sure whether it awaits or lurks, but I am eager to see.
Today I finalized my plans to attempt to gain an interview at a local company. It is a company that has open positions that seem like a perfect fit for someone with my qualifications and experience. I am just praying that I choose according to the LORD’s plans, and that the possible change is the best for my family.
ONE
I have recently revived my desire to search for a new career. After talking with a few friends, I have come to the conclusion that all I can do is try. Forget about how hopeless the economy seems. If I don’t do something now, I may regret it later. With toes on the edge, let’s jump.
TWO
Push ups are once again a part of the regime. My cousin gave me a set of the perfect pushups thingies and I have enjoyed using them. While I may not be pursuing that elusive 100, I am getting in better shape by consistently performing push ups.
It’s true. I have officially taken more than a “break” from the push up program. I am not discouraged with this, though. I have been working out consistently for a few weeks now, and am feeling really energized. If anything, the push ups got me going on the exercise kick.
I reserve the right to go back to the program at any time. I’m just not sure when that will be.
Saturday, I began a push ups program that promises to enable the faithful to perform 100 consecutive push ups. I eagerly emailed Kane about the program, because I know that he is interested in fitness, and to my surprise, he responded something like this – “Tried it last summer – doesn’t work!”
Hopes dashed – dreams ripped to shreds. Anyway, after recovering from a burst bubble, I realized that even if the program doesn’t deliver as promised, it should still allow me to pursue better health.
Kane’s criticism was that Week 5 of the program was impossible. I have to admit that Day 2 of Week 1 was quite a bit more difficult for me than Day 1! Still encouraged, though.
One little discovery made is that I have started thinking about doing something similar with other exercises like sit ups or crunches. We’ll see how it goes…
(I would love to hear someone say that like James Earl Jones. Call me if you master it.)
In recent days I have been encouraged in many ways to get on the journey to health improvement. Perhaps it is because I have gained about 40 pounds in 6 years. Following that same pattern by doing simple math puts me over 350 pounds by age 55. I don’t like the sound of that.
Maybe it’s the thought of wanting to live a longer life so I can be with my family, or maybe it’s just being able to feel better all around that drives me.
Whatever the reason – it’s time for action. I’ve talked about it a lot. I’ve joked about it a lot. I really need to do something. I’m not sure what that something is, but I think it’s a few somethings. Here’s a brainstorm of things to cogitate:
So there it is. I got it out. I was afraid to write about this, because then I would really have to do something. So now I have to do something.
To all my faithful readers…I’m sorry that I have not written in over a month. I hope to never repeat this. I was overcome with busyness, and push came to shove.
I realize that you have been unable to sleep, and that when you have briefly dozed off, you have been terrorized by extreme nightmares. It’s now ok to rest. Never fear. I’m writing once again. For now.