Back to Work!
Well, after that long weekend and an amazing time of inaugural bliss, it was time to get my you-know-what back to work. The last week or so has been spent in a whirlwind of court, visits, court, meetings, court, visits, and when lucky, extracurriculars:)
Of course, I couldn't come back from a week's hiatus without at least a small bit of yarn porn. This is Paton's stretch socks yarn and it's actually quite pretty and not bad to work with. I'm doing a pair of toe-up large and stretchy socks for yours truly with the varying width ankles. I have four balls - two colorways each - of this yarn and plan on two pairs of socks while I'm also working on the following:
Lace Ribbon Scarf for Donna
Aqua Today's Sweater for moi
Grey heather Spring Forward Cardigan for moi
Spring T for someone else.
Well, hey, at least I've got a little variety going - and I'm incorporating projects already begun so as not to feel guilty!
Well, things around the Law Firm have been interesting - in a Chinese curse kind of way. I don't like to talk about what happens at work for good reason: it's confidential and private and all sorts of other stuff. I usually say that I love my job (and I do) and leave it at that. We are going through all sorts of things because of the economy and other things I am not free to discuss. I even thought I might be laid off today (paranoia springeth eternal) and was determined to just keep on keeping on no matter what. But that didn't happen - at least not to me. It did happen to someone else, though and that's all I'm going to say about it. The Powers that Be had their reasons. I was unashamedly glad to still be employed, though. So much so, that upon leaving the city office, I treated a couple of homeless guys to a little breakfast from the fast-food place nearby. Perhaps that's silly, but I felt I had to give something to someone as a way of saying thanks and they were perfectly nice gentlemen who appeared to have fallen on hard times and it was broad daylight and people were around and......
Even having a job today, there are no guarrantees in life. About anything. I am just a little more grateful than usual today. And I'll keep the other employee in my prayers (which sounds so vainglorious and hypocritical but I don't know what else to do right now).
The one thing I am determined to do is even if I have to leave this job, I will leave it in pristine condition. I want to have done the best job I could have done and leave, I hope, with the knowledge that I may have done someone some good. Good Lord willing, I won't have to, but I'm just saying....
Church life is a little tough right now and again, I'm uncomfortable putting into words what is happening because it's unfair to the people involved. Suffice it to say that we are trying to pull together to really help each other out and be a community. Stephen Ministry training has been a lot of learning and although it may be daunting, I am looking forward to helping someone (I hope I help, LOL!). The people I've met - both at my church and the others involved - have been wonderful to know.
Of course the music at St. John's is one of the biggest blessings of my life. I often think about what brought me here. It was one of the best decisions "I" ever made - and I've never regretted it. Nancy has become my dearest friend in the world and there are so many others I've been so happy to meet and get to know. In fact, the music ministry is its own sort of "mini-community" here - one that has embraced me with open arms. How can I not respond in kind?
Perhaps it is exactly these cold dark months of winter that provide us with a certain solitude - even if one works amidst crowds of people as I often do. And those times of solitude give me a greater appreciation for the good things - and especially the good people - in my life. Cold dark winter nights cause us to yearn for the warmth and sunshine of spring, but they also grant us a form of intimacy with our deepest selves. And if we're lucky, with the Eternal.
Until next time, dear 3.5 readers, God be with you 'til we meet again.
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Comments
I was thinking about your piece on Church and only realised recently that I am what you would call a Lay Minister. I can't marry people but I do every thing else. Now don't faint!
I do know I am hardly conventional.But the Spiritualist Church is an official religion, with ministers and whilst I do ot wish to be ordained, I do the same work.
Colin - I have felt that your internet presence is a form of ministry to so many - it has been to me:) I am ashamed to say that I don't often help homeless people who ask for money, although I do try when the spirit moves me - probably not nearly as much as I need to!
And Colin - I really enjoyed reading your blog post today - gave me much to think about!
Joanna - I'm about to read yours (I'm following both of you!
Hope your day was/is lovely!
Joan a/k/a FSK
On the employment front - there is no security with ones job today. Economic and/or political events prevent that. I believe the only security is in yourself, your beliefs and those you are bonded with such as family and friends.
Music is such a wonderful part of a person's life. It can calm the soul and bring peace and joy to life. Appalachian Spring is one of my favorites to calm me. Simple Gifts - a meal to one who is homeless, listening to a friend and keeping that person's secrets that way. Those may be simple to you but massive to the recipient.
I like the looks of that Paton's yarn. I didn't even know that it existed. I love knitting with some of the more expensive yarns, but I like the durability of some of the others. I'm sitting here in a pair of old Magic Stripes socks right now, and Paton's Kroy also makes favorites for me.
Simple Gifts - a beautiful song and I love Appalachian Spring, too! And you're right - security comes from within and without. Some things are not in my hands. My mother-in-law used to have the Serenity Prayer on the wall in her home (though she was not a twelve-stepper, LOL):
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
The courage to change the things I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Right now I don't know how to plan for eventualities, but I do know that I've always been able to find work and I don't think that will change.
We need right now, of all times, to believe in abundance!