Today I've been at a morning youth planning committee meeting, looking for a new song in an old file system I had, decided to ignore ten desperate emails looking for me, been planning worship, taking phone calls, arguing with Lauralea, done work on the sermon, walked through the pre-teen Wednesday party, got the mail, bought office supplies, connected with 6 people at various levels of depth, and now just before the youth group descends for the evening and we feed them supper, I'm trying to prepare for a funeral I have tomorrow morning.
And I think to myself, Self, it would be good on days like this, to work in a small niche bookstore where few people come and go on any given day, and I am free to help those who come in and maybe dust a little or unpack new books for my benevolent, very wealthy, shop owner and manager who prefers to be elsewhere, and who likes the laid back version of myself and lets me read when the dusting and shelve stocking is done, and after a stressful day of three customers I walk home to my wife and family and in the evening I head out to play in the bowling league I'm a part of with guys I've known since birth and who won't criticise me for only getting one strike the whole evening and instead they buy me one single beer to celebrate with, and we drink it with gusto and with that success puffing up my pride I return home and make love to my wife who is surprised because it's not Thursday night and I sleep the sleep of the contented man because tomorrow is another busy exciting day.
... or maybe not.
ok, back to the prep work for tomorrow.
That's a crazy day. I hope you get some rest tonight. Or at least have a sense of fulfillment at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, the hugely productive days, while stressful, are often fulfilling and provide you with an experience of righteous hard work. The empty day of pottering, while looking so attractive can leave one hollow and unsatisfied. Running a business that doesn't sell much stuff can be quite difficult in all the ways one doesn't suspect, and just spending a day reading things leaves me feeling guilty and unproductive.
ReplyDeleteI hope you did sleep well last night, and the funeral didn't cause too much pain with all those memories.
That my friend was the best bit of writing I have seen online in 2011.
ReplyDeletevery much enjoyed. would have to agree with Jordon. God bless thursday nights
ReplyDeleteThat was a great post.
ReplyDeleteOh.... I can SO identify with this sentiment. Maybe I could work at a camera store.... That would be so nice.
ReplyDeleteOr not. Calling and all. Fire in my bones and all that. ;-)
I love this post :)
ReplyDeleteGreat insight into the life of a pastor.
ReplyDelete