Friday, December 19, 2008

Let me help...

What is the most stressful time of your professional year?

Is it April and May, for all you bookkeepers and accountants?

Or June through October for the construction contractor.

Maybe its every couple weeks when payroll is due, or when you have to, must do this or that for a client and if you don't, well.....

Consider that time, thing, deal that takes all your concentration, and see the strain and worry of it reflected on the face of the highway worker who plowed your way to work, or school or possibly even hospital.

Know that he feels personally responsible for your safety, and that he would much rather be home, taking a snow day, sledding with his kids.

Will he make over the mountain one more, two more, four more times tonight without 'finding' the invisible edge of the road? Can he be gentle with his equipment, make it last long enough to get you and you kids where they need to be, or will it breakdown and lose him hours?

And what about those kids, driving way to fast and that road he just cleared, will they make another corner, another mile? Who will be there first to pull them from their car, to call for help.


Consider his family, who want to share their day, and be with him, and all he wants is to eat, shower and shut down. To wake up for the next shift to see that all his effort, skill and professionalism gained him nothing.

Four more inches of snow, freezing rain and a tricky commute.

Let me help, I'll go first, just give me room to work.



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Saturday, December 13, 2008

Wow

My friend buried his wife yesterday.

I hadn't much opportunity to ask him how he was doing, I was certain he was absolutely overwhelmed and I didn't want to add yet another "how you holdin' up?''

I do know that she is what stabilized him and brought him back to Christ. And I assumed with her being literally torn away he would be angry and defiant toward God.

I'm sure I would. And on both counts, I would be wrong.

Growing up, my friend was just enough younger than me, I always considered him and his wife "kids". I was his counselor and 'cabin dad' at summer camp. I watched him grow up, screw up, and mature. In fact the picture I used for my profile was taken from a softball game this summer where he hit 9 home runs. I remember thinking what a man he had become and of all it had took to get him there. It all looked good, babies, job, beautiful wife, the whole deal.

All I can say is she faced death on her (figurative) feet, had one week to bring closure to her life as a mother, wife and friend and demanded that no one cry for her. I watched him put his wife in a hearse, and then wrap his huge arms around his aunt, to comfort her.

God uses all things for good. That is His Way.

I wonder how, why, and ignorantly search for answers. And someday I may think I have the answers, and that I now I have understanding.

And on both counts, I'm sure I'll be wrong.



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Friday, December 5, 2008

Still here

Dear Citizens, thank you for checking in, it has been too long since my last post and I feel I should DO SOMETHING. But I cant. I am too depressed over the death of my friends 28 year old wife and mother of his two way too young kids to be witty and charming. And I am too emotionally constipated to cry about it on the Blogosphere. I lost my mom when I was the age of his oldest and all I know for sure is that it is possible to continue breathing, walking and living, that one day will continue to follow another, whether he wishes to or not. If he loses faith, if he can no longer trust and believe in God thats ok- I'm certain God still believes in him.