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 marvel at the energy level of my bride of almost 19 years. She could run circles around me in a normal day, and she usually does. It’s a blessing to be married to such an energetic person. She challenges me to do more.
I also stand amazed at her ability to never really meet a stranger. If you were to listen in on most conversations with new acquaintances, you would bet that she has known the person for years. This is an ability I do not really have.
I could go on and on about things that my wife can do so well that place me out of my comfort zone, but one area that has come to my attention lately definitely pushes the envelope for me. It is a road I don’t often travel. One that I shy away from at every turn, but one that seems to attract her like one of those huge magnets in a junk yard attracts cars.
The thing I’m talking about is how she seems to be more than OK with the spotlight. The proverbial spotlight, that is. It’s not that she craves this spotlight. She doesn’t dream about how to get attention, nor does she find it too difficult in times when others have the spotlight and she doesn’t. It’s just that when the opportunity presents itself, she stands at attention. And the opportunity has presented itself…yet again.
Chic-Fil-A is holding its annual “Dress Like a Cow And Get Free Food Day”. Last year, I was fine with my whole family (excluding me) dressing like a cow to get free food. I really have a taste for Chic-Fil-A, so I went along and hid sort of in the background while my family pushed on ahead and got free food. I insisted that I would gladly buy my own food. I think some others in the family had the same wish, but they had no money, and Momma made it clear that it wasn’t an option for them.
This year, to the surprise of my bride, I have agreed to dress like a cow. I said it’s a road that I don’t often travel. I have been known to acquiescently stick a toe into the spotlight. So here goes.
I’ll be wearing an angel costume retro-fitted to look like a cow (frown, grimace…that wasn’t what I had in mind, but oh well). “Sounds like more than sticking a toe into the spotlight,” you say? Well, I figure you only live once, and though the light from the spotlight can be bright at times, and if the spotlight hasn’t been converted over to fluorescent from incandescent, it can also be very warm (I’m told), but so what. I’ll travel this road since my bride seems to enjoy when we are on the road together. I can pretend to like it, I guess, or maybe I really will like it.
I’ll let you know after Friday.
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.
Yesterday I began Week 4 of the push ups program. I am surprised at the increase in strength I have experienced, but I am still not sure that I will be able to meet the 100 consecutive push ups goal. I was thinking about doubling back to week 3 in order to buy some more time, and gain more endurance, but I may see how week 4 goes.
I share a problem with a friend that also tried the program. That problem is with breathing. I am finding that at higher reps I am having considerable difficulty processing enough oxygen. It may be that my friend and I are both lacking in the cardio-fitness area. I would not deny that for myself. I am hoping that with increased cardio workouts, that will change. We’ll see!
My need for more water has come to my attention lately. So – I have, in the last week or so, consumed about a gallon of water each day. Some benefits?
For those of you who say that you could never keep this kind of water consumption up (because you have things better to do than visit the bathroom all day)…I have read that after increasing your consumption for about 3-4 days, your body compensates, and visits to the restroom level off. My experience in the last week bears this out as the truth. A win-win situation!
I completed Day 1 of Week 2 in my push ups saga. Not too difficult.