wow, it's been a while! i hope we'll still keep blogging so we can keep in touch this summer.
some of you may know nothing more about me except that i'm danny's wife. hopefully, we'll get a chance to know each other better in the coming year. to get introductions started, i'll share what i do "for a living" in case you have no idea. :) i've worked the past 8 years as a management consultant at a global benefits consulting firm. since employees are a company's greatest asset, my work involves developing strategies to maximize employee performance, attract talent, and keep employees engaged through the reward programs offered through the employment "deal." i feel that this work is what God has called me to do-- to be a Christ-follower in "corporate America" and impact the policies that affect people's jobs and livelihoods.
the business world is a highly political and competitive environment, and i feel that God has placed me where i am to make a difference. i've been fortunate enough to transfer to three offices within my company during the past 8 years (houston, austin, atlanta), and i can see God's purposes for planting me within each office i've been at. whether it's to be a light as one of a few Christians in my work group, to defy company policies that are greedy and unethical, or to create benefit structures that eliminate executives taking advantages of line employees-- i feel that this is what God has equipped me to do. i firmly believe that we can follow Christ in whatever vocation He's called us into.
summer is busy season at my work because strategies have to be approved by my clients before the fall. despite the fact that i'm used to working 60+ hours in the summer, this season has been unusually stressful and emotionally draining. after meditating about it recently, i realized that my exhaustion has stemmed from running on sheer willpower and relying on my own abilities instead of tapping into God's strength. it may seem counterintuitive, but it's true that the busier we get, the more we need to rely on God to guide us through our manic days. oftentimes i feel that i have too much to do and can't bother with God, but not seeking His peace is exactly why i feel burned-out and on-edge.
i'm going to try something this week-- to have short conversations with Him throughout the day in an attempt to keep Him top of mind even if i'm busy. i need to be constantly reminded that His guidance, strength, peace are available to me-- wherever i am, whatever i'm doing. He is both my Lord and my friend, and i need to work on my relationship with Him just like any friendship that I treasure.
am i supposed to tag someone now? how about eunice? or anyone else that wants to post? :)
5 comments:
interesting thoughts on the necessity of relying more on God as we get busier. i find this hard to do - it's so counterintuitive! sometimes i wonder if i'm being lazy or something and "giving" it up to God as an excuse not do anything on my part or simply as my last resort plan. how do we trust without that kind of mentality? what does trusting in God really look like? prayer was mentioned. other things people do/think/practice?
i'll be happy to post. i'll think of something by tuesday (no dire coonsequences for me...= )
i like the way you search for God's intention in all that you do. so all those times you had to move because of me-- i was just helping God put you where you needed to be!
i need that constant reminder of God's presence as well. besides being in prayer through the day, trying to practice set time prayers (8am, 12pm, 6pm, bedtime) to interrupt my day helps. but i've kind of lost that habit.
thanks, eunice. i can identify with it being easier to either not involve God at all, or just let go and be defeatist/complacent.
it's definitely a partnership with God-- we need to be active and take personal responsibility for all we do (col. 3:23-- we work with all my heart to glorify God), but be attuned to the Holy Spirit to direct our daily decisions and plans.
i think practicing spiritual disciplines is one way to train our minds to depend on Him. instead of tapping into His power only in times of crisis, we need to develop daily disciplines so that we are always equipped. frequently repeating positive habits (like meditation, prayer, study, worship, confession), we learn how to be in tune with the Spirit.
a few good books on this topic: the spirit of the disciplines (dallas willard), celebration of discipline (richard foster), the pursuit of holiness (jerry bridges).
danny, i know-- it helps to have someone keep you accountable. want me to buy you a watch with an alarm? :) maybe you can create a schedule to do set time prayers during yti.
susan, i still have your copy of the disciplines. i brought it home with me and i'm still working my way through it. (i probably should have asked before kidnapping it for the entire summer). i've enjoyed it so far.
Post a Comment