The Best I Can… January 23, 2008
Posted by jkyser in Uncategorized.trackback
The road map to life is very unclear. It is nice to have freedom, but at the same time, I wouldn’t be too upset if the clouds opened up and a booming voice yelled down “Hey You!! Go Here! Do This!! It will be for the best!” I wouldn’t be upset if I had in mind a general direction in which to point my life. Now, while you may be thinking that I am taking it to the extreme – that I really do have some direction in life (and I do) and I shouldn’t be moaning and groaning about it, there are still a great number of unknowns for my life. I wonder if we will ever really know where we are going.
A new mentor in life challenged me on the direction in which I am heading. Simply stated, I am unsure that the final destination of the path I am on is where I really what end up – like many other twenty year olds. However, I emailed a (hopefully) conviencing email that while I don’t know for sure if that is where I really want to be for the rest of my life, I feel like I am doing the best I can.
How many times do we feel this way? Someone, innocently (he wasn’t attacking in any way), asks us…”What are you doing?”, and we respond with a simple yet loud, “THE BEST I CAN!!!” And then the person, regretting ever asking such a question, leaves us alone. I remember my days working at the courthouse, for the Circuit Clerk’s office of a particular county, where the stress would mount and my little heart couldn’t handle the 50 hour weeks of work. There were times that I just sat my desk and tried to do it all, but knowing tomorrow the piles would just stack right back up. It was at those times, my employer, would come and lay a hand on my shoulder and say, “We are lucky to have you. You are doing a great job!”
I think there are days we need someone to come and lay their hands on our shoulders and say, “You are doing a great job! We are blessed to have you.” I would invite you to close your eyes. Well, don’t do it yet or you won’t read on and know what to do. I invited you after reading this to close your eyes and imagine yourself at your place of employment – where that may be. Imagine the stress mounting, the pressure building, the frustations overflowing. Now imagine Christ coming and laying His hands on your shoulder and simply say, “You are doing so great! I am so proud of you! I am blessed to know you!”
May today bring you peace and calmness. May you feel ease in your job and in your personal life. May God give you comfort in where you are in life…no matter where that is. May you always know that as long as you are looking up towards God, you are always heading in the right direction. May God bless you as you live the best you can…
I’ll never grow up! I’ll never grow up! Me and Peter Pan. Sometimes it is harder for me to believe I’m grown up than others. I’ve been interviewing teachers who are new to the teaching methods of the National Writing Project. Which, by the way, you should make plans to attend on of the several offered in Missouri. They are great for all teachers, not just those of us in communications. Anyway, I have been accepted as one who “knows” about the ins and outs of teaching. I’ve always thought of myself as a learner, not an instructor. Seeing oneself mostly as a seeker and a learner, it feels strange to be in the position of leader/teacher. I really think that once you put yourself in the leader/teacher position it becomes alarmingly easy to stop seeking and learning. Anyway, if I don’t write up the report of my visit, I won’t be either. Hope your year goes well.
Sharon
Hey, Joe. I can’t help but think of you and me and maps and mission trips…hee hee…
As I was reading your first paragraph something occurred to me. What is the difference between a map and directions? A map lays out all the options. It shows us the lay of the land, the big picture. Directions give us one direct path from start to finish. Well life throws us detours all the freaking time. If all we have in our hands are the printed mapquest directions, we are screwed. I think you are looking for God to print you some directions and what God has given you is an entire map, a bigger picture with options and choices. I don’t think it really matters which course you chart, as long as you don’t forget the big picture. Jesus is the life-giver and is living his love for life out through you. If you find what inspires you and go that direction, you can’t go wrong as long as you don’t forget the big picture.