no collar worker

It happened.

I was at the park with the family and the cell phone rang. I answered it and heard this young girl's voice say, "Mr. Harmless?" ... only it was spoken with a southern accent.

Now there is more than one thing wrong with this. The first this is that I have moved, so anybody that knows me as, "Mr. Harmless." is miles away. The second thing is that this is summer time, and everybody that knows me well, knows that in the summer I am not a teacher! The third this is that it was a southern accent.

After about 10 seconds of trying to remember whether or not I was actually "Mr. Harmless" I very weakly replied, "Yes?"

You see, I knew that it had happened. This was my first contact with a new student... and I was jolted back into the onrushing reality of the end of the summer.

I was hoping she would then say, "... just checking, we won't bother you again until the end of August!" But that didn't happen. In fact, having come out of my summer mental hibernation, this southern accent speaking girl had the nerve to ask me a question...

"... what supplies would you like to have ordered?"

Darn! This was going to require some actual thought. I stumbled around for a couple of minutes and then I finally came up with the most intellectually sound response that I could muster. I said, "... Ummm, I don't know."

I think she finally decided that I wasn't about to give her any suitable information to deal with, so she ordered me the typical supplies that the other teachers tend to order.

You've heard of the white collar worker, and the bluecollar worker... But I would like to say that I am a proud representative of the no collar worker.

No skills, just a willingness to work. That's me!

still learning - #3

I started to do a series of things that I have learned in this last year. You can read #1 - God is good and #2 - I love being a teacher, if you like.

So here goes...

Still learning #3 -- God's way is always better.

I think that this has been the most impactful truth that I have encountered this past year of my life. I don't think that I have ever said that there was a truth that was "life-changing" before. I have heard other people say that, but I am pretty sure that I never have. Well, if I was going to say it about anything, it would be about this.

Because His way is better.

I used to think that God had all of these rules for us to follow. You know, right vs. wrong stuff... But as I have gotten older, I have started to notice that He didn't just randomly pick a bunch of things for us to do. He, in His love, has established a way to live. A way that is better.

He is the creator, and He knows how we should live.

I have alluded to this before on this blog. You can read some of these related thoughts here, here and here.

Sometimes it seems that His way will not be as good. And I will say that I have had to learn this the hard way from time to time.

I know that a big one is telling the truth. Sometimes it sure seems that telling the truth would be the worst possible thing. And sometimes it even seems that way when we go ahead and tell the truth. At first it seems like, "oh man, why did I tell that?!?" But in the end it is always better. I know that even Bill Clinton would agree that telling the truth was the best, ultimately.

I know that there are marriages that it seems like it would be better if you separate, but His way is better.

I know that there are experiences that you want to have that God has forbidden. I know that my students struggle with this one. When you're young it seems like the best thing would be to experience everything, but the best life you can have is a life done God's way... it's better.

I know that there might be some revenge that you want to take, even though God has asked you to leave that up to Him. And that is what you should do. His way is better.

But however bad or difficult it seems, I guarantee, His way is better, His way is ultimately easier, and His way will be more fulfilling.

There are other things that seem like they will limit us or deny us the enjoyment of life, but his way is better. And life in Him is the only free life and the most enjoyable life. Doesn't the Bible say, "... if the son has set you free, then you will be free indeed..." and how many different times can you read the phrase, "... then you joy will be complete..."

His way is better. You should try it.

Update

I'm working and busy, I don't know about you.

I am working for a moving company (again). I am sweatin' off the pounds while I am picking up hide-a-beds and toting them down from third floor apartments. I am bored out of my gourd while I am driving to different parts of the country.

But hey, I'm bringing home the bacon!

I will try to write more later but right now I am just a simple truck driver.

How about you? What are you doing this summer? Why don't you drop me a comment and let me know how things are going.

moving right along

Well, I have moved!

I have been really busy, so I haven't had time to write. But I am hoping to get back at it again really soon.

While I am away, I would like to encourage you to browse the sidebar. I would like to suggest checking out the archives, maybe even go all the way back to the beginning of "harmless thoughts." If you are not interested in that, I would like to suggest some of the blogs that I have listed. I check them all out from time to time.

Thanks for reading!