Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Phillipians 4:8 (NIV)
This started out to be a whiney post about how I feel like I am being eaten alive by everyone who is making demands on me and my time. How I feel like I am disappearing one inch at a time collapsing under the responsibilities, committees, jobs and chores that are thrust upon me each day. How some people think I am the only source of food, clean clothes and dishes, when all I really want to do is sit in front of my new kiln ramping up the temperature every fifteen minutes until glass is melted into beautiful shapes. While I am doing it, I will write a masterpiece that will be loved by generations. That’s what I want to do, but no one will leave me alone to do it. Tomorrow is November 1, the month of Thanksgiving. So, I have decided instead of whining, I will spend the month focusing on my blessings. Perhaps if I do it every day for a month, a new habit will be born. Maybe it will take the place of the one that drives me to the Halloween bucket for a piece of chocolate every ten minutes. Thinking back over my week with a more positive outlook, I can see things a little differently. Though I sat in a school board meeting for over three hours, they still voted to tear down a historic school. Yet, seeds were planted and the next time this issue comes forward, maybe, then they will think of a historic building as an asset instead of a liability. I endured a church committee meeting that seemed like it was just a meeting to have a meeting, but harmony and plans for the future are emerging. I completely rearranged my schedule for three days to meet and tour the city with an arts consultant, but I got to converse with a group of influential leaders with whom I do not ordinarily mix and convince them that when we speak of culture, we are talking about history, not just art. I spent two days working in our office’s employee relations department helping with United Way, judging a Halloween costume contest and answering the phone as a favor to my boss so she could go to her daughter’s school and volunteer. No, let’s be honest. It was mostly all about me because now she owes me big time. Tonight, I spent the evening in a crowded auditorium full of screaming trick or treaters representing our office at a community event, but it gave me a time to get to know one of my employees better. Instead of counting the minutes and feeling resentful about how I was not doing what I want to do, instead of the imposition, I will think of the opportunities. Tomorrow, however, is Saturday, and finally, a chance to do what I have been longing to do all week. I’m getting out my kiln and no one better ask me to cook anything but glass!
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