It's been quite a while since I've put a blog out there. I haven't had much to say, in all honesty. So, I figured there wasn't much of a point, I guess. I still don't have too much to say, but I got that little urge to write.
Yesterday I started to realize how much I've become self-absorbed. Part of it is the pressure from people around me to "do something productive with my life" and part of it was me just not wanting to waste my life away. But the past couple days I enjoyed simple things like sunshine, rain, chatting while drinking a lemonade, talks with wonderful friends, sitting in the Lord's presence, reading a good book, etc. And I realized how much I had become absorbed with me--figuring out my life, what I should do next, what I shouldn't do. And in trying so hard to find my way, I lost the joy in life. I hadn't realized it had gone that far until a loving friend asked me if I have been mad at them lately. And, confused by the question, I began to realize how much I had almost become depressed and shut off because I spent my time focusing on me. I love the saying that says, "Live life on purpose." However, in trying to "do" something with my life, I stopped really "living" and enjoying life, God, and people.
As much as I get responses from people on a regular basis about how awful it must be to work nights at a convenience store\gas station, I enjoy it. There, I said it. The two people I work with are INCREDIBLE. I don't have the drama with them that I've had in much "better" jobs. I enjoy going to work. And I once read that we spend 40 years of our lives working (almost 80,000 hours) and that we should work at a job we enjoy because we spend so much time working. I've told God I'd be ok flipping burgers as long as I was able to minister to people. That was my dream for my life. To be able to be there for broken people and love on them and point them to the Lord. While I'm not the best at evangelism, I do feel that I am filling that dream in where I am and what I'm doing.
Life is what You make it. I don't think I've ever really hated any job because I make it a point just to enjoy whatever I'm doing. So why people are constantly trying to better me, I'm not sure. I enjoy advice and learning from others. But it's hard for me to take when people constantly suggest I do something differently. I don't think striving all the time is the answer to enjoying life. So, hey, maybe I'll just enjoy life for a while. Maybe I don't have to know the next step. I know I've said it before. But somehow, I always keep trying to figure it out. I've never wanted to "make something of myself." I just want to love people and be there for broken people just like Jesus would. I'm still learning a lot about life, but there's more to life than our occupation.
I once read a blog by Donald Miller that said when we meet people, we should ask them what they think is important in life, what they're passionate about, what they love, etc. because people are far more than their occupation. Try this one:
Hi, I'm Lisa. I love Jesus. I love people. I love encouraging people and being there for people. I love hugging people. I genuinely care about people and try to do whatever I can for those going through a hard time. I love blessing people just for the heck of it and doing things to make them smile. I try to be the best friend that I can be. And, by the way, I just happen to work at a gas station. :-)
5 comments:
I loved the description at the end and how you ended with" and hey I work at gas station by the way". I am proud to call you my best friend. Love you soo much hun and keep chasing after Jesus. He will let you know what you need right when you need it!
Love you!!!!
i think i'm gonna start using that paragraph with people
someone wrote recently on facebook
"how about we enjoy the mountain instead of always trying to conquer it"
i've been thinking lately that as long as we're all walking in the fullness of our calling no matter how big or small that my be by other peoples standards that that is what we should be living by
i like the tree header on the blog :) yay for trees as header graphics!
i'll get out a "deeper" post soon they just take a lot more work
Love this post, Lisa. :) I think we become too defined by "what we do" rather than "what we are here for."
If we really come down to it, Love God, Love people. The rest is just stuff, right? Just a way to make the money to do the things we are passionate about.
And for the record, my favorite job was flipping burgers. :)
I didn't know you had a blog! Yay! :)
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