Evanescent

Word of the Day, February 2: evanescent\ev-uh-NESS-unt\ adjective
Meaning: tending to vanish like vapor

Example Sentence: "Dance is the most evanescent of the arts, evaporating into memory the instant it's completed." (Jordan Levin, The Miami Herald, November 13, 2008)

I like today's word. In a way, leaving an office is inviting evanescence. Out of sight, out of mind, goes the saying. And that's a good thing.

Any of us who think we are "it" or irreplaceable are mistaken. No work can be done that isn't built on the foundations of others. And no work will not be overtaken by the ideas of others... unless of course the accomplishments are so trivial, transitional, or worthless that they vaporize entirely.

I enjoy change and opportunities to grow. There's something very satisfying about gaining new skills, watching an organization expand, and serving others in new ways. But after we've done our best, we can take great pleasure in watching the next person disassemble parts of our work and reassemble them to build something new. Throughout history, when civilizations are over-run, the new occupants examine the remains for materials to erect their homes, barns, and churches. In the same way, I expect the person who sits in my office to glance here and there for building blocks that suit them, while tossing the rubble that no longer fits.

"Will you miss your work?" asked a coworker anxiously this week. "Will you regret quitting and wish you were back at your desk?"

I grinned at her and replied, "Probably not." I have enjoyed meeting so many people and been given such pleasure in my job that I can think of nothing to add to this season. As I dust off my hands to move to the next thing, I am filled with great anticipation. If this was so much fun, what is next?

"Whatever it is, it won't just be sitting and looking at books," said someone today, who knows me very well. "I can hardly imagine you without a few irons in the fire." We'll see. Whatever the future looks like, I can hardly wait!

Read more:
*Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death. Proverbs 12:25, 26, 28 NKJV

*A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Is. 40:3-5

*After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" Revelation 7:9-12 NIV