Relaxing--100 Words

Relaxing.

Been doing a lot of that this week. Seeing that I’m off work and going unpaid, I’m not thinking about my job. Not at all.

Here’s what others said about relaxing.

Dave Berry described it this way: “Dogsled-riding is a sport that is relaxing as well as fragrant.”

An unknown person said, “Humor is a whisper from the soul, imploring mind and body to relax, let go and be at peace again.”

Robert Heinlein said, “Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.”

That sums it up.

Work--100 Words

Work.

Yes. It’s a four-letter word.

More some days than others.

I’m heading back to work after a mandatory week off. I’m not alone. All of my co-workers have experienced four weeks off. You know, due to the economy.

The stimulus plan didn’t help our company.

Neither did slumping sales.

Not sure what the answers are for the future. The only certainty is that we have one more week of leave to take before 2010 rolls around. And then, three more weeks off in 2010.

So, pardon me as I try to come up with some different words for work.

Disappointment--100 Words

Dia

I’ve experienced it. Caused it. Lived it. Suffered through it. Wished it would flee. And, I’ve struggled to understand it.

Disappointment.

Never a friend. Always an enemy. Sadly at times—a constant companion.

Lately, I’ve spent time trying to understand disappointment—since it has set up resident in our family—after forced furloughs, blind-sided termination, health issues, disappointment was expected, just not welcomed.

Yet, it’s here.

Now what?

If only the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., could bring solace: “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

True hope comes from Jesus Christ. Come quickly Lord Jesus.

Lessons Learned...So Far

As many of you know, I've been taking a break from blogging this week. For those who noticed, thanks for noticing! For those who didn't notice, shame on you! :)

A few days into this furlough thing, I've learned a few lessons that I'd like to share with you. Nothing too earth-shattering important, just observations.

1. I could get used to not going to work every day! I definitely see why retirement is so appealing to so many. I get to set my own hours and do my own thing (or at least those things that Tonya tells me are my own things!) I like working around the house. I like building stuff and painting things.

2. No project is as simple as you think. So far this week, I've built Evan's toybox (once I get it painted, I'll post a picture to let you see my handiwork. I've also painted our guest bathroom. I've washed clothes. And, cooked a few meals for my lovely wife. Each of these projects were planned out and I had a gameplan for each one. However, projects don't go the way you think they should or as fast as you think they should.

3. You never have the right tool! I've been to Lowe's and The Home Depot several times already this week. Now, I'm not complaining. I love those places! They are manly stores. If they could bottle the smell of either store, I'd buy it! But, just once, when I start a project I'd love to have all the tools I need to finish it.

4. It is amazing how many cuts and bruises I get when I work around the house! Right now, I've got two cuts on my head where I hit myself as I built Evan's toybox, not once, mind you, but I did it twice! Yes, I hit my head twice. Tonya did get a good laugh out of that one.

5. There aren't as many hours in the day as I thought! I always want to do one more thing before quitting time gets here, but I know that some of those things will just have to wait until the next day. I'll keep those things on my list so I know what to accomplish next.

6. I forgot just how many muscles I have! I've rediscovered a few hundred of them over the last couple of days. And, to be honest, I think each of them is hurting right now!

7. Nothing I've done this week matters to anyone but me, and maybe Tonya and Evan. Then again, that's okay by me.

8. By now, you've wondered what the meaning of the photo at the top of the page is. Just a reminder to self: when you are on unpaid furlough, be prepared for things to break! Our laptop died last night. Well, that's not true. The laptop is working, the LCD screen died. Guess what? To fix it would cost $300-400! Yup. So, I guess we'll been spending money that we hadn't planned to spend on a laptop. Let the shopping begin! And no, that wasn't on my "to-do-list" for the week!

9. I'm torn about blogging right now. I've really missed the regular readers of my blog and I've missed your comments! I started blogging because I had something to say, and words to express. I've continued blogging because of the social networking I've come to love.

Friends, be patient. I'll be back. As a writer and editor, I simply have too many words in me to keep them all to myself. So, soon, I'll be filling my blog pages with more "stuff," some you'll enjoy and some you'll just pass over and say, "What was he thinking?"

That's okay. As I've said before, it is my blog! So, I'll write what I want to write. And, as a reader, you always have the choice of simply not reading. Hopefully, you won't do that, but I understand if you do. Unless you are one of the mean-spirited commenters who've lurked around the site for a while.

Keep praying for my fellow co-workers. Because I can't check email, I don't know how they are doing. I'm sure they are fine. And, hopefully their computers didn't give up the ghost and they aren't nearly as sore and tired as I am!

Some Time to Think

On Wednesday, I shared a little of the journey ahead for me and my fellow co-workers at my company. I won’t repeat all of the details. You can simply scroll down and read what I had to say on that previous post.

I thought for a long time before posting what I did. You see, I’ve known what was coming since early December. I’ve had plenty of time to think about it. During Christmas. New Years. And, during Evan’s birthday. I’ve thought about it. I’ve prayed about it. I’ve talked with my wife about it. We’ve looked at what this means to our bottom line.

By no means do I want my words on Wednesday or today to reflect any negative feelings toward the people I serve alongside. There isn’t any anger or animosity there. Honest. I work with some of the greatest people and servants I’ve ever met. I look forward to great days ahead for our company and the people who make up the company. I believe the best days are ahead. We just have to make it through this tough stretch.

At this point in my life, I’ve decided to take a few days off from blogging—not like people come in droves to my site on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday anyway, or any other day for that matter. You know, I’ve tried to stop watching Sitemeter and seeing who is visiting the site and from where. I do peek from time-to-time, the curiosity just gets the best of me. But, I’ve come to accept the fact that I write this blog, not for numbers, but to build friendships and relationships with others. And for that, I’m most thankful that you’ve stopped by the site every day, or if today is your first day. Either way, I feel blessed that you’ve shared a part of life with me.

But, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need a few days to reflect on the journey I’m about to take. That journey begins today for me. These are uncharted steps. Since I was 21 years old, I’ve worked. I’ve always been paid for the work I’ve done. Now, I’m employed, just unpaid. I’ll be off a week and then go back to work once again. To my same job. To the same office. Kind of weird just thinking about what is to come.

My goal is to post something new on Monday. That’s not a promise. But a goal. I do know I won’t be sitting at the computer every day next week, waiting for people to comment or to visit my blog. I’ve got a long list of things I want to accomplish next week. And, as my dad would say, “The Lord willing and the creek don’t rise,” I’ll complete that list. On the top of that list will be building Evan a toy box. I’m not a great carpenter by any stretch of the imagination, but this is something I want to build for my son. I want him one day to realize that his father built this, to the best of his ability, during a difficult time in his dad’s life. I want Evan to know that I focused every bit of energy on creating something special for him. I can’t think of a better gift for him, or me.

I’ll be back in a few days. Promise. Maybe Monday. Maybe Tuesday. Maybe Wednesday. Soon. But, I’ll see you again shortly. Friends, thanks for your patience. And prayers. Both are appreciated more than words can say.

In His Name,
Steve

The New Meaning to Stimulus

fur·lough
n.

1.
a. A leave of absence or vacation, especially one granted to a member of the armed forces.
b. A usually temporary layoff from work.
c. A leave of absence from prison granted to a prisoner.

2. The papers or documents authorizing a leave.

tr.v. fur·loughed, fur·lough·ing, fur·loughs
1. To grant a leave to.
2. To lay off (workers).

Lately, I have developed a new appreciation for the word "furlough."

You can see the definition above for furlough taken from the free online dictionary. While I already knew the definition and the word, I now understand it far better. Or, I'm about to.

For the first time in my life, I am about to experience a furlough from work. Beginning Friday, I will be on unpaid leave from my job. I'm not alone. Everyone who works for our company will be taking 4 weeks of unpaid leave from January - August. Hopefully, the furloughs will not extend longer than that. I guess we'll wait and see how the economy goes between now and then. And, further into 2009.

You see, I've watched the news since Fall time about the economy and how the economy is struggling. I've watched the news intently as they've talked about businesses closing, job layoffs, shut-downs, and yes, furloughs. At first, I had a causal interest, but as the Fall became Winter, I watched with a different perspective in mind.

Our company hasn't made the news, we are a small business of about 100 employees. So, we rarely receive press coverage, and that's fine. But, the stagnant economy is hitting more than just the big three car companies, The Home Depot, and the banks. It is also hurting companies like the one I work for.

So, beginning Friday, I will be joining the ranks of unpaid American workers who are questioning what 2009 will hold for us. By every stretch of the imagination, I'm thankful I have a job! I'm thankful that my boss has done everything in her power to keep the employees we have. Her job is not one that I would want to have now or ever.

Over the next week, I have a lot of work planned. My wife has given me a very detailed list of "honey-do" things that need doing around the house. I'll be painting. I'll be doing yardwork. I'll be building Evan a toy box.

On the other hand, I won't be working. I won't be answering emails. I won't be answering the phone, networking with contacts, assigning writers with articles, attending meetings. I won't be drawing a pay check. That will be the first time that's happened since I began working full-time at the age of 20 years old.

I'll do fine. God is gracious and He provides. Tonya and I aren't worried. We are blessed far more than we deserve to be.

I would ask you to pray for my fellow employees. Pray for other companies that are facing the same decisions we are facing. Pray for employees, of big and small companies, who will be furloughed or laid off in 2009. Difficult days are ahead in 2009.

I don't blame the Democrats. I don't blame the Republicans. I think all of us share some of the responsibility for where we find ourselves today. We've lived so far above our means that we feel that we are entitled to that. Where are we promised that? Where are we promised that we will have bigger and better than our parents? Where are we promised that someone else should support us? Coverage our mortgage? Bail us out when we get ourselves into debt?

James 4:14 gives the promise. Not the promises above. But another promise. James said (in my paraphrase) that life is just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. If I live to be 75 or even 80, what is that really? It's just a vapor. What's all the money I make? A vapor. What's work really about? Again, a vapor.

So, as you pray, pray for our economy, yes by all means do that. Pray for companies struggling to get by. But, more importantly, pray for people who haven't yet grasped the truth that there is more to life than what takes place at work, or on vacation, or out shopping. Or building treasures on earth. Life is about a relationship with Jesus Christ. Life is preparing to meet Him in glory.