DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?????? Well . . . this morning I leaned over to grab my phone which is often one of the first things that I do. Sarah typically posts after I do in the evening, so I love to read first thing in the morning what she opted to write about. BUT what do I see this morning??? 4, yes 4, missed calls from last night. 2, yes 2, texts. 1 Facebook post about a blog that is minus, you guessed it, MINE!!! ARE YOU KIDDING???????
I learned this the hard way last year. I have saved every night that I have written. I have saved every post that Sarah has written when I have been in the blog so hers wouldn't be lost. I have saved, and saved, and saved and saved, with the EXCEPTION, of last night!!!!! And I found myself thinking, "OH, NO, YOU DIDN'T JUST SAY THAT SARAH!!!"
Then reality struck and I realized that she actually DID say that my post was lost, and that it actually DID mean that I had to do it again, and I was actually CERTAIN that the brilliance of my post last night would far surpass the one of today, but I had to start over.
Starting over . . . as a writer, it is the place we visit often. Edit, re-edit, do it over, change it, and maybe, just maybe, the writing you see captured in words will mirror the concept that we have in our brains. For me to write, I have to be in the proverbial ZONE! When I was writing sermons, it was done, typically Saturday morning, sitting in the recliner with my blanky and a cup of coffee, cell phone at hand, and access to anything GOOGLE that a writer might need, because I am a self-proclaimed research JUNKIE! When all my proverbial personal ducks are in a row, I am ready to begin the process.
When I am finally ready to start, the words flow seamlessly from my heart and spill over onto the paper where they somehow manage to find meaning. I am ALWAYS the first receiver of the gift of words that GOD has blessed me with that day. I never really have a plan, I never really know what path things are going to go, but I always trust that this is one way that God works through me. After all, it is a tried and tested measure of my own faith, and it has never failed me yet. That being said, there is ALWAYS room for human error, from which personal experience has taught me well, and words written have somehow been lost, and now I have to start over and try and recapture what was written. You simply have no choice but to start over from the very beginning which is what faced me from the moment I opened my eyes.
Starting over . . . Starting over is brutal! Some individuals have lost a loved one that was a treasure in their lives, and they are struggling each and every day to put one foot in front of the other and make meaning in this world without that individual. Others have experience the loss of divorce, a major job change, loss of a friendship, kiddos that are leaving the nest, or any number of life changing events that alter one's intended path, but no matter what the situation is, starting over is HARD!
Each and every day is, "Like a gift, beautifully wrapped at the foot of your bed each morning, today asks that you open it and enjoy everything inside. Exhaust yourself with all it has to offer!"--Steve Maraboli. Life is a gift . . . we need to remember that, because I know sometimes I too manage to forget it. Each day is an opportunity to start over, to learn from our mistakes, to see others struggling and to reach out, to find joy in everyday things, to discover love, to call an old friend, to give the gift of forgiveness, to let someone know they are in our hearts and on our minds, to laugh deep belly laughs that make you tear up . . . each day IS a GIFT! Each day is an OPPORTUNITY to start over . . . starting over = a good thing!
So whereas I was a bit stressed out this morning and it felt as though I might not get back in the proverbial zone, the technical difficulties presented an opportunity to start over. Starting over today and every day gives me the GIFT of the PRESENT!
Sarah Day 9: Patience is a virtue!
Last summer, Jesse and I had a plan. The plan was that he would get a job in Law Enforcement around the Fargo/Moorhead area, and I would go back to school at NDSU. He would take care of most of the bills, and I would help out (financially) as much as possible. I would pay to get us there, he would pay to keep us there. Sounds fairly foolproof, eh?
I didn't have any doubts that Jesse would get a job in Law Enforcement shortly after his graduation. I knew that the economy sort of sucked . . . I knew that I had been waiting 2 years to get a job related to my degree . . . but that didn't change my thought process. Jesse wouldn't have any issues. He picked out a career that was very specific. Law Enforcement = Police Officer. Police Officer's are everywhere. He did good in all of his classes, he has a good attitude, he's a hard worker, he's physically fit, and he interviews really well.
Of course, our plan changed in almost every way possible. I'm not in school, I finally got a job, and I've been paying my fair share (plus some) of the bills. Jesse was having a heck of a time getting a position in Law Enforcement. He was applying all over of area and he had several interviews, but he was told the same thing at almost every one. He didn't have enough experience. Grrr . . . that sentence has become highly "disliked" by the two of us.
I've started to really think about how many employers miss out on really awesome employees because of those 3 words - not enough experience. I'm not just talking about Jesse, because I'm obviously partial to him. But there are dozens of other people that I know who haven't been able to get a job even remotely related to what they want to do. We wait and we wait and we wait, and no one will give us a chance to gain a little experience.
Today, Jesse was formally offered a position as a deputy with Cass County Corrections! His patience finally paid off . . . not that he was waiting an extreme amount of time, but 6 months definitely isn't a short amount of time. As a correctional officer, he'll gain that experience that every employer wants their employee to have. Jesse is lucky that he was offered a position that's going to allow him room to grow.
Last summer, Jesse and I had a plan. The plan was that he would get a job in Law Enforcement around the Fargo/Moorhead area, and I would go back to school at NDSU. He would take care of most of the bills, and I would help out (financially) as much as possible. I would pay to get us there, he would pay to keep us there. Sounds fairly foolproof, eh?
I didn't have any doubts that Jesse would get a job in Law Enforcement shortly after his graduation. I knew that the economy sort of sucked . . . I knew that I had been waiting 2 years to get a job related to my degree . . . but that didn't change my thought process. Jesse wouldn't have any issues. He picked out a career that was very specific. Law Enforcement = Police Officer. Police Officer's are everywhere. He did good in all of his classes, he has a good attitude, he's a hard worker, he's physically fit, and he interviews really well.
Of course, our plan changed in almost every way possible. I'm not in school, I finally got a job, and I've been paying my fair share (plus some) of the bills. Jesse was having a heck of a time getting a position in Law Enforcement. He was applying all over of area and he had several interviews, but he was told the same thing at almost every one. He didn't have enough experience. Grrr . . . that sentence has become highly "disliked" by the two of us.
I've started to really think about how many employers miss out on really awesome employees because of those 3 words - not enough experience. I'm not just talking about Jesse, because I'm obviously partial to him. But there are dozens of other people that I know who haven't been able to get a job even remotely related to what they want to do. We wait and we wait and we wait, and no one will give us a chance to gain a little experience.
Today, Jesse was formally offered a position as a deputy with Cass County Corrections! His patience finally paid off . . . not that he was waiting an extreme amount of time, but 6 months definitely isn't a short amount of time. As a correctional officer, he'll gain that experience that every employer wants their employee to have. Jesse is lucky that he was offered a position that's going to allow him room to grow.
After watching my dad all of these years, I know that Jesse will have a tough career . . . mentally, physically and emotionally. He's probably going to see a lot of things he doesn't want to see, and do a lot of things he doesn't want to do. Law Enforcement isn't for the weak. I can confidently say that I know Jesse is not weak, although he will have his moments.
I've always hoped that I would end up with someone in Law Enforcement. I know that I can stand by Jesse during those tough times, and celebrate the exciting moments. I know that he'll always protect me and keep me safe. One day, I know he'll protect my daughter the way my daddy has protected me. And . . . if Jesse really is anything like my dad, I know that for the next several years, he'll be eating sandwiches every day for lunch and supper . . . which I'm really looking forward to!
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