work

I've been working a lot. Well, actually I've only been working about 40 hours a week - but it feels like a lot. Plus if you add my commute (at least 20 minutes one way) then it is more than 40 hours a week, but not much more. I had just forgotten what that was - or perhaps I never knew. I've never worked for 40 hours a week where I was on my feet the whole time. I mean the WHOLE time, there are no seats in the kitchen and it would be weird if there were - but still I feel like I'm working a lot.

It also seems like everything comes at you at once. I am feeling overwhelmed about working and then on top of that one of my coworkers quit so I'm working two extra shifts this week (go overtime!). Plus, I'm looking for an apartment to move into by May. I'm also doing research on buying a scooter, because a car is just too expensive! I tried to go to three different scooter shops today, but apparently Monday is the day all scooter shops are closed. Now, it looks I'm going to need to buy my own computer soon too. A lot of money to be spent, I guess should be happy that I'm working all this overtime so that I can afford to buy all these fun things I want.

I guess this is just a rant about feeling like I don't have any time - of course when I wasn't working full time I felt like I had all the time in the world and I didn't do much with it. I suppose I'm being more productive now that I have to squeeze more into my day. Perhaps it is useful to have parameters like 40+ hours a week of work to make sure that other things get done.

Work and Rest

I just got back on Monday night, then Tuesday morning I came into work. I have not had much time to rest.

I realize that when I post on this blog people actually read it. I know I've mentioned this before. Once again I failed to post and, not surprisingly, my total readership has gone down. Basically, the principle is that if you build it they will come. (I feel like I'm not the first to have said that... ;)

I think this relates to my spiritual life. I keep on expecting God to tell me what I should do next. Should I go back to Texas? Should I stay here in Geneva? Should I go and study Spanish? Should I go somewhere else? Should I go and live at Taize forever? I am expecting the answer to fall into my lap. I am forgetting the key part of a conversation, listening. Talking is an important part of any dialogue, but equally important is listening. Listening to see if God is telling me something that I am perhaps not willing to hear. Listening to see if God is telling me something that I want to hear. Listening to see what God is telling me. Listening. It is a key part that I am forgetting sometimes. I am so busy trying to hear and find out what path God is laying for me that I forget to listen. I forget to just sit and be. Just sit. My blogs are related to this because if I simply posted more than more people would come and read them. If I simply spent more time listening then perhaps I could begin to hear.

As Jesus often says, "Those who have ears to hear, listen."

I suppose I am looking for a balance between work and rest.

Impact

You never know what impact you will have. You never know what effects your decisions will have on other people. I recently got an email from someone I have never met that found my blog through searching the internet for "taizé" This is not too surprising since I often write about Taizé and I even had a two whole posts on it here and here. I was surprised when I read this email and I was flattered. I know that people I do not know and have never met are reading my blog. I assumed this because I don't know anyone in Indonesia, for example. I was surprised that my words had such meaning for someone that they went out of their way to tell me so. I am very glad that this person did. This person is preparing a trip to Taizé in the near future and I am glad that my words inspired the trip. I was actually talking to a German girl in my residence hall just yesterday about Taizé. She said she liked it because there was no forcing of doctrine. That is also one reason I like it.

My friend left yesterday and now I am back at work. Thinking about what the next step will be. Thinking about what the next activity will be. This week should be slightly more relaxed because both of my bosses are off to Jordan to evaluate a project we have there. I am slightly envious of them - getting to go off and work like this. I know it will be tiring for them, though. The support staff in my office, the accountant and the administrative assistant are also out this week. They are on vacation. Our office is very quiet. I like it. I also feel less urgency to do work. Hopefully that will change. We will see. (Posting on this blog is one very good way I can procrastinate - that and facebook).

Publications, Publications, Publications. Now that we have successfully sent off Red Book and Federation News it is time to start on Student World. We are still working on Student World 2008. I am hoping to do both 2008 and 2009 this year so that next year at least the intern will not have to play catch up. It will be a lot of work, but I am looking forward to it. We'll see how it goes....

Thoughts and Ideas

It has been a week since I posted last. That is unusual for me. I have been managing to post every few days. This week has been especially hectic. Michael is preparing for a trip to the US, so all of us are running around like crazy trying to make sure everything is ready for him on this trip. I have been feeling a little like I am chicken with my head cut off.

I have also been reflecting this week on my future. I am preparing a Bible Study for the Interns. We decided to do the story of Joseph from Genesis. This week we are focusing on Gen 41:14-41. I am really looking forward to the Bible Study this afternoon. I think it will be a nice distraction from my aforementioned work. I also realized, while planning this study, that I enjoy reading the Bible and thinking critically about it. I enjoy discussing with others what they get out of the Bible. I hope that this afternoon will go well. I know that I want to do something with my future that will allow me the space to share the Bible and reflections on God with friends.

Work is still a little crazy. I have gotten here early the past few day. Yesterday I stayed late; today I probably will. However, this upcoming weekend is a three day weekend so that should be really good! I already have so many plans for the weekend. I am hoping that I can find some time to rest - but it will be nice to hang out with my friends too. I am going to go see a "football" match this weekend. La Servette (Geneva's football club) is playing their last match of the season. In an attempt to fill the 30,000 person stadium they have decided to make this game free! I am very excited to see a professional soccer game, even if they are supposedly not a very good team.

Sadly, one of my friends is leaving Geneva for good on Tuesday. So, we are going to go out on Sunday night to send her off. Since Monday is a national holiday, I am sure we will have fun on Sunday night :) I will miss her a lot.

I am hoping and praying that his weekend will be a relaxing change. Next week should be a very different: both Christine and Michael will be out of town. I will be working very hard to actually mail out Fed News. There will be lots to do while they are gone - but perhaps I can relax a little more.

Now that it is almost 9 am - I think it is time to get started on my work. Maybe I will post some pictures next week of my soccer game this weekend. If you are the praying type - please pray for me. This work has been stressing me out and I need the guidance to work effectively and not let my emotions get in the way of my work. Thanks. I apologize for the long time between posts. Hopefully the next one will be sooner.