Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Anniversary (04/11/05)
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TITLE: Looking Forward to Eleven | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lori Othouse
04/15/05 -
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My husband and I were on our way home from church, talking about our jobs and money (or lack of it), when he asked the question. It didn't take long for me to answer.
"Over ten years," I said with a sigh.
"So, you've been in your career for ten years already?"
"It's not a career; it's just my job," I answered quickly.
He thought for a moment before responding and then said, "That's a long time to work at something that's not your career."
Silence followed. His comment, quickly forgotten by him, lingered in my mind. He was so right. I had spent almost 1/3 of my life working at something that I didn't really want to do. I'm sure the reaction most people would have to that would go something like, " Welcome to Life! It's called work and it's true for the vast majority of the adult population!" But I didn't want it to be true for me.
Now, of course, an income is necessary. I certainly don't regret working because it helped pay the bills and maintain a standard of living. Not to mention, most of the time I had no choice. You can't live on love, we all know that. But what else had I done? Was I pursuing my passion? Doing what I really wanted to do? More importantly, was I doing what God wanted me to do? What have I done with what He's given me?
And so began the beginning...the beginning of a serious pursuit of writing. I had always taken whatever writing I did seriously, but I had to move on to the next level. I started looking for opportunities to write instead of waiting for them to come to me. It's amazing how many, many opportunities are out there. I thought I had an idea, but I had only scratched the surface. And since I'm just dipping my toe in, I'll probably find the ocean even deeper than I think now.
As writers, we want to make a difference. We have something to say for whatever reason that will hopefully minister to someone or teach something or maybe just encourage or entertain. That's what I long to do, but I've been noticing an unexpected side effect happening with me. My writing has been making a difference in me. I know this isn't exactly a revelation, but it took me by surprise. I look at my life differently now. Always very quick to dismiss most of it as ordinary and often boring, I realize now there have been many beautiful moments worthy of sharing. Everyone I talk to, everywhere I go is food for thought. It's cliche, but the possibilities really are endless.
So as I continue this journey, I just have to thank God. I thank Him for the gift of the desire to write. I thank Him for every wonderful moment of inspiration where "I have to write that down!". And I thank Him simply for writing and the tremendous power of words. After all, God wrote. He wrote His Word, the depths of which can never be exhausted. And He continues to write through us, His children. I'm so grateful for that opportunity and I want to do all I can while I can do it. What about you? What are you doing with what He's given you?
June 1st will be my eleven year anniversary at my job, but I no longer look at it as "eleven years of a boring job". It's eleven years of experiences. Eleven years of growth and change that, with God's breath of inspiration, just might do something good for someone else. Maybe my husband was right, after all. Maybe this is my career!
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