Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Employment (01/26/12)
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TITLE: Perfect Order | Previous Challenge Entry
By Luanna Diller
02/01/12 -
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Somewhere between folding family laundry at midnight and dozing off during an hour and a half commute home from work, I wondered, perhaps I am being stretched just a bit too thin. “Running around like a chicken with its head cut off!” is what they used to say. Not a pretty picture. Neither was I.
If only all the important matters of life would magically line up in perfect godly order. This is the stuff fairy tales are made of. Fairy tales for wives, moms, and career loving women who know: It’s all important!
Then, a word of encouragement that changed everything. I was leading Bible study at church. (Give me a break, this one really was important!) Beth Moore, the study’s author, said, “Going on in perpetual exhaustion is being out of God’s will.” Ouch. This was truth. My spirit knew it. I pleaded with God, “Please, You are the only One who can set my priorities! Show me.” You’ve heard it said, “When you ask for patience be prepared for opportunities to practice patience.” When you ask God to straighten out your priorities, get ready for an adventure.
A drastic reduction in work hours was my first request. The momentary blank stare I received from the supervisor created a micro second of panic. I felt myself take a quick gasp of air. No turning back now. In my field of work being buried deep in multi-levels of various projects, simultaneously, is every day routine. That work could not be easily passed on. The creativity I contributed could not be replaced. With some difficulty, however, most of the projects could be given new owners.
The next step, a negotiation to work most of those remaining hours from home. Granted, a proposition that left no great amount of confidence that my job was secure. In this economy? you say, she’s crazy! That may be an accurate assessment. As the economy worsened and business belts tightened, even after 27 years with the organization, and as a senior level employee, the job went away for me completely. But the proof of answered prayer had already begun.
The road that leads to relief was evident. Before me was the path to peace, plain as day. The proof? A slow-but-steady reversal of the destruction exhaustion had caused. Mind and body were regenerating. A mind made of mush became clearer. The pit of depression was morphing into more of a pothole. The lack of energy that made every day feel like a trudge through sludge, settled into a day I could face.
He is gradually, gently, and consistently putting in place His priorities. Because first, He is the ultimate priority. He Himself! He is and always has been right where a holy God deserves to be. First.
Turns out, life in God’s will just happens to be, well, all about His will.
Now I do laundry during daylight hours. The longest commute is to church. There, I teach inductive study of the Word of God to precious women who demonstrate priority living.
It may all be important stuff, but He is the important One.
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My only comment would be not to overuse punctuation like the reflective question marks and exclamation points. Save them for dialog and use words to make your points.
Nice job of writing on topic in a fresh and interesting way.