Great expectations

From Real Simple Daily Thought

Wouldn't it be nice to have the ideal job?

• You wake without an alarm and bounce out of bed in anticipation.
• The family cooperates to make the morning easy and the commute is light.
• When you check in, the boss (or coworkers) greet you with a smile and wish you a great day.
• You work hard at your calling but it feels like play. The day flies by. Before you know it, it's time to go wrap up.
• You're refreshed and your heart is singing. You don't even notice the homeward commute.
• Your family is happy to see you - it's been another great day, and you can't wait for tomorrow!

Most of us don't have THAT kind of job all the time. I had a job like that for two years. I couldn't wait to tackle the tasks, to meet my contacts, and to facilitate services for the company and its clients. When the dynamics changed, work became...

well, work. It felt more like "By the sweat of your brow you shall labor," than "You shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace."

No matter how ideal the vocation and no matter what our great expectations, parts of what we do will be hard, perhaps even distasteful. They may feel like boring chores.

• Programmers have to show up at meetings with managers who ramble on about their own agenda. 
• Faculty members have to serve on committees and grade papers. 
• Landscapers have to scrape the mud off their shovels and strip off dirty overalls.

It's the part that feeds our soul that makes work fun.

• Are you a communicator? Maybe the meetings and the group presentations ring all kinds of bells for you. 
• Are you a gifted teacher? Seeing students grasp new concepts thrills you. 
• Do you have the gift of hospitality? You forget the mess in the kitchen because people are enjoying the meal. 
• Are you a caregiver? Easing the burden of others brings you joy.

What makes it all worthwhile is aligning our calling, gifting, education, and experience. What about your work makes you happy you're there?

Read more:
*The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib; but my people do not understand. Isaiah 1:3 NLT

*Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:17 NLT

Moravian Prayer: You made us in your image, God, and appointed us stewards of your creation. Yet we do not acknowledge your greatness or your will for our lives. Teach us humility, that we may know you as our Creator. Amen.

How-to motivate the working self

Moss, baby tears, and mulch from
the yard = a mini-woodland

The office lights are on, the moss tray on the desk gleams with mist. Its earthy fragrance fills the room. I don't mind water on the ground. It's when water plummets through the air, soaking me and making the dogs stink, that I object.

What to do? What to do with my long list of must-get-dones today? I promise myself a break after I research for an hour. "There will be fresh hot tea and breakfast," I say to the reluctant me.

How do we motivate ourselves when we don't feel like working? I'd love to hear your tips!

Happy in the office window:
tilandsia on bogwood

Here are a few of mine:

1. Deadlines are our friends. I'm more likely to persevere with a hard date for completing a task.
2. Break big jobs into smaller goals. Celebrate (or at least acknowledge) when you achieve even the smallest milestone as progress toward the finish line.
3. Intersperse tasks you don't enjoy with those you do. I dislike researching the pages of old writing but like reviewing the information I gather in my notebook.
4. Make your workspace a pleasant place. My office is light, bright, and filled with plants and art. I like coming to the space. I look at pictures of the last few places I worked: each of them made my heart sing when I walked in the door.
5. Work for rewards. If you're an employee, you work for money. Doing less than what you're hired to do means you're stealing from the company. If you're self-employed, your boss must make the job worth doing. For me, it's tea breaks, walks, and time off to read and write whatever I want.
6. Ultimately, God is your boss. Focus on his pleasure while doing good work.

Read more: (Thanks, Tillie!)
*Surely God is my salvation;
    I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song;
    he has become my salvation.”
With joy you will draw water
    from the wells of salvation.
In that day you will say:
“Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done,
    and proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
    let this be known to all the world.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
    for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” Isaiah 12:2-6 NIV

You in your small corner ... and I in mine

The sun's out! Again! How I love the light-filled days, the warmth (70os is hardly "hot"), and the breeze-less air hanging in the forest behind the house.

"How do people keep up, working a full-time job?" My friend and I had tea together, mulling that puzzle this morning. Both of us have left previous 8-5 office obligations to do good work from home. Now we toss laundry in during the day, pause to finish chores as we walk by, and run errands when we feel like it.

And we get to visit! Social life was hard to prioritize when we were exhausted after a long day of working for others. I've had three "meetings" this week with colleagues and friends ... with three more scheduled this week and next. I'm no social butterfly, but catching up and maintaining friendships and networks is easier when I don't have to wedge lunches into an hour of "maybe Tuesday before I go to another meeting."

I'm so grateful for seasons in life. It seemed like good fun when the kids were young and homeschooling. The days flew by and we spent many of them in creative endeavors. Now I watch the young moms and feel worn out just watching them pack a diaper bag.

I loved working for Northwest University as Alumni Director, connecting students and former students, informing alumni and administrators, looking for artists for art shows, planning events, and writing e-news. Happily, someone else has the privilege now; like I did, he loves his job, while I'm happy to have moved on.

The bluejay outside my window is dropping pine cones from the gutter onto the deck. He's flitting about, busy at his work, designed by God for gutter-clearing and cheerful talk.

Each of us has a job to do, whether I'm a disabled vet praying for friends, a grandma nurturing the young ones, a professional giving a presentation, a track-hoe operator digging a hole, or a mom soaping stains off an infant's bib. God is pleased to applaud our work as we serve with all our hearts.

How can we do good work? Here are some ideas:

1. Do the task at hand. Serve at a big or small job as though God himself were your boss. (Um, actually he is.)
2. Look for ways to serve with excellence. Go beyond what you MUST do to what you MAY do.
3. Be grateful for work. Others wish they could do what you are called to do today.
4. Look for ways to make others look good. Lend a hand, point out a short-cut, or take someone new under your wing. 
5. Don't promote yourself beyond necessity. You don't have to brag about your accomplishments. Others will do that for you if you are an exceptional employee!
6. Pray for those around you. Be sensitive to the needs of coworkers and willing to be a friend. Someone may need to hear about Jesus' love or see your concern for them. Many people (especially in cities) have no one nearby whom they can trust to help or listen during stressful or difficult times.

 "Have fun at work," my husband says as he goes through the check-out at the store. He loves his job. I like mine. And we hope you enjoy yours today!

Read more:

*Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God. Psalm 95:2-3

*Jesus said, “Give to God what is God’s.” Mark 12:17 (NIV)

*All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:3-8 NLT

Moravian Prayer: You alone are good, O God. We give you all thanksgiving and praise! You alone are great, O Christ. We bow before you in humble adoration! May the joyous sound of grateful hearts never end as the strains of truth and trust resound in you, our Savior. Amen.

One deadline down, more to go

A whole life culminates from a series of days and moments.


Sometimes it seems like what we do for the next hour or two doesn't make much of a difference. I like to dawdle through books that make my heart sing, like CS Lewis' Space Trilogy - nope, never actually been able to read them cover to cover, no matter how many times I try. I keep getting lost in the descriptions of worlds of imagination, conjured by words I know in other contexts.

But that's not the point I'm thinking about today. I looked at blog stats and was stunned to find that I have written so many... and that so many people read what I write. (Stats recorded over 15,000 readers in the past year or two). Day by day, with one post at a time about whatever comes to mind, the words stack up. And I am so grateful for every comment and encouragement along the way – other readers love to read what you're thinking, so keep them coming... in public if you're willing. A very special thank you to Tillie Porter, who sends a scripture a day my way, encouraging me to stay grounded and rooted in what is true and right.


I reached one of my smaller deadlines toward a potential 2012 graduation last night, sending off the fourth of four tutorials to my advisers. I have four really big deadlines (writing and defense of writing) coming up. As I hit "send" yesterday, God reminded me that every day has its own joys and sorrows. Nothing has the power to overwhelm us when he is in the day with us.

Our task is to listen to the still small voice –whether it comes through scripture, prayer, friends, church community, or otherwise – and obey. Nothing God asks of us will be contrary to his Word, even when it completely contradicts our culture and others' expectations.


What is God asking of you today? Doing a good job to earn your salary? Cleaning house to make it sparkle for hospitality later this week? Sitting at the bedside of an ill friend or family member? Praying for missionaries who desperately need spiritual cover? Studying for a sermon that nourishes rather than amuses or entertains? Brine-ing the turkey and assembling ingredients for Thursday's feast? Resting with your feet up because God is giving you time today to think about him and be grateful for all he has done?

I'm going to tackle the article I have to write and defend. It's not the way I'd choose to spend the day if I were making up a "perfect" day. But it's the task assigned to me. 

See you. Let's get to work!!! (or rest!!!)


Read more:
*In this manner, therefore, pray:
      Our Father in heaven,
      Hallowed be Your name.
      Your kingdom come.
      Your will be done
      On earth as it is in heaven.
      Give us this day our daily bread.
      And forgive us our debts,
      As we forgive our debtors.
      And do not lead us into temptation,
      But deliver us from the evil one.
      For Yours is the kingdom and the power
      and the glory forever. Amen.
-----------------
Matthew 6:9-13   NKJV