Thanksgiving Thought

Good Turkey Morning!

So I have been working stocking shelves at Menards for like $8.00 an hour for the last month. It starts at 6am and is not ideally what I would like to be doing but I think it is about more than the money (that often seems to be the case when we do something we don't really want to do).

I got this job because I needed to make a little extra cash while I try to figure out what I want to do in the future. I didn't really want to get up at 5am every morning.... I like to sleep. But I tired to put a positive spin on it for my own peace of mind; to either psych myself up (or out). So I went in thinking: "this could be ok, I will meet people... meet some new friends, maybe God even has a bigger purpose of me being there... maybe it is so I can influence people and show them Christ. "

Well after about a month, I do have some new friends. But I haven't had any "life changing conversations" with anyone and don't think that will be happening anytime soon. Which is fine. Maybe, at some point I will be able to talk to people about God or church or whatever but I found out there might be more to me working at that job then... how do they say it in Chrisianese.... " a divine appointment". I learned a few things after examining myself these last few weeks.

#1. There are a lot of people in Menards that need Jesus but I need to let God figure out if someone needs to talk about God. (Not that I have attempted to witness to anyone yet). I went into Menards deciding that there was probably someone that I would talk to about Jesus or church or Christianity but so far that is not the case and ultimately, right now, not important. I went in to the situation thinking that I could possibly be an influence on others lives (which is funny cause I tend to steer clear of always trying to witness to everyone...). Now don't get me wrong, I do think that I can show people Christ in me, hopefully just by being me, but I don't have to go in expecting a to find "divine appointment".

#2. I went to college and have a degree and my degree was not in stocking shelves for $8 an hour. That is the attitude I had before I got the job and honestly I still feel that way sometimes today. But I have slowly begun to realize that you are not defined by what you do as a job (or at least you don't have to be). Also I found out that there are other people who work at Menards that also have college degrees. So I have been humbled by having to take a job I felt "above" and also had the reminder that yes, other people have gone to college and work at Menards.

#3. I think the biggest reason (or maybe the biggest benefit) of me working at Menards is that in a way it has jump started my prayer time. I was struggling to take the time I knew I needed to with God and getting up early has been seemingly a blessing. I sometimes pray a bit when I am getting ready for work in the morning but most of the time I try to pray while stocking (before anyone else comes in the store). I am usually in my department all alone at first so it is a good time to think and pray.... it is amazing what that does for me.

So I guess that is it. Sometimes I have to examine myself and my attitude and just realize that God desires to just have more time with me. Nothing extravagant, not super hero Josh, just needed time between me and God.