It is His work, not Mine
Well, another week has passed us by. I am here again to share with you what has been lovingly referred to as "The Sunday School Lesson". Which it is not. We had a wonderful lesson today in Sunday School. I may have to share that will you at a later time. It made me think of SnackPack and his adventures this summer laying concrete. Don't let me forget.
Any who, on with this weeks "Lesson" or what has been on my mind this week.
Last Sunday, I received a call from the Stake Executive Secretary. He asked if my loving wife and I would be willing to meet with a member of the Presidency. (Side Note: I had been expecting this. I was in a funk. I have been talking to several of you about it recently. Things in my current calling have just not been meshing.) Of course, I said that we would be happy too.
For next several days, the Queen would randomly ask me, "What do you think it is?", "What are your feelings?", "Do you think it might be .....?" There was lots of speculation, lots of "I hope it is not this, or I hope it is not that.", and even more nervous anticipation.
Finally, Wednesday came. The Queen even wore a dress to mutual, even though the activity for the night was kickball. I got cleaned up and dressed for a meeting, jumped on my bike, and rode to the stake center for our appointment. The building was busy, busy, busy. We were hustled into a back office with a member of the presidency and he kindly smiled and said, "Thanks for all you have done, but as you know, not all callings last forever." I am sure there was a little more small talk, but that was it. He shook our hands and wished us well. We both walked out of the office a little stunned. It was not what we expected at all.
The Queen went back to her activity, I mounted my bike and pedaled back home. I was befuddled. I felt empty. I was frustrated. I had been feeling that change was coming, but expected and even anticipated more than a release. I found myself kicking off my shoes, throwing my tie in a drawer, and working myself up. I even sat down and sent a ranting email to SnackPack, not that he was really interested, but it is what my weekly email to him turned out to be.(Sorry Son) Then I did exactly what I told him I was going to do. I went into my room, said a little prayer, and opened the scriptures, hoping for some kind of calm.
Why was I so worked up about this? Why was it bugging me so? I didn't like the feeling of empty. I wanted answers. I began to wonder what I had done wrong or if I had done enough. I started rehearsing in my head all the of most recent conversations I had had with the Bishop. I just kept building it up to something that was bigger and grander than it really needed to be.
After I had been stewing about it for a while, the Queen came home from mutual and told me that the Bishop had asked if he could come over for a visit. He did. It was even more of a shock when he released the Queen from her calling. I am sure she has spent several hours stewing just like I was. I know there have been tears and prayers late into the night. But not for the same reasons. She is a little more concerned about the calling that was extended to the both of us as a result.
The next morning I woke up and sent a follow up email to SnackPack or maybe it was even that night before I went to bed. But as I sat down to the computer, I looked up and saw this weeks verse of scripture for my pondering: Moses 1:39. We all know this scripture and can probably quote without even looking it up. The words that stuck out to me - "This is MY work and MY glory..." Why was I getting so upset, frustrated, and ranty about not having a calling? Why was I thinking about how it affected me?
There you go, that is my question: WHY? How often do we all get caught up in these thoughts? It is not about us. It is about Him. It is His work, His glory. We are just laborers in the vineyard. It will happen with or without us. But what will we miss out on if we are not part of it. Isn't that something that we all worry about? What am I going to miss out on? What is in it for me? There is so much we will miss out on, so much in it for us, if we just start looking at, working towards, and serving with that thought in mind. It is Him not us/me.
There are my thoughts for this week. I have learned so much more today that I will share at another time.
As far as our week does..it was a week.
The Queen worked a different shift every single day. Some early, some late. I already mentioned that she was released, so now her mind has turned to wrapping things up. I don't think she is thinking about her new calling. I on the other hand am having a hard time focusing on the one I have until it is announced over the pulpit.
The Professor continued lesson planning, ward planning, and just hanging out. We were glad she invited a Songbird over for dinner this weekend. It was nice to just hang out with her as well.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo are trying to settle in, catch up, and figure out the things of life. We have had a couple opportunities to hang with them this weekend. It was nice to see and hear what they are up to. Ehl-Bo has been super crafty. Tall Man is working with his hands and getting paid for it.
We look forward to hearing from the rest of you soon.
Any who, on with this weeks "Lesson" or what has been on my mind this week.
Last Sunday, I received a call from the Stake Executive Secretary. He asked if my loving wife and I would be willing to meet with a member of the Presidency. (Side Note: I had been expecting this. I was in a funk. I have been talking to several of you about it recently. Things in my current calling have just not been meshing.) Of course, I said that we would be happy too.
For next several days, the Queen would randomly ask me, "What do you think it is?", "What are your feelings?", "Do you think it might be .....?" There was lots of speculation, lots of "I hope it is not this, or I hope it is not that.", and even more nervous anticipation.
Finally, Wednesday came. The Queen even wore a dress to mutual, even though the activity for the night was kickball. I got cleaned up and dressed for a meeting, jumped on my bike, and rode to the stake center for our appointment. The building was busy, busy, busy. We were hustled into a back office with a member of the presidency and he kindly smiled and said, "Thanks for all you have done, but as you know, not all callings last forever." I am sure there was a little more small talk, but that was it. He shook our hands and wished us well. We both walked out of the office a little stunned. It was not what we expected at all.
The Queen went back to her activity, I mounted my bike and pedaled back home. I was befuddled. I felt empty. I was frustrated. I had been feeling that change was coming, but expected and even anticipated more than a release. I found myself kicking off my shoes, throwing my tie in a drawer, and working myself up. I even sat down and sent a ranting email to SnackPack, not that he was really interested, but it is what my weekly email to him turned out to be.(Sorry Son) Then I did exactly what I told him I was going to do. I went into my room, said a little prayer, and opened the scriptures, hoping for some kind of calm.
Why was I so worked up about this? Why was it bugging me so? I didn't like the feeling of empty. I wanted answers. I began to wonder what I had done wrong or if I had done enough. I started rehearsing in my head all the of most recent conversations I had had with the Bishop. I just kept building it up to something that was bigger and grander than it really needed to be.
After I had been stewing about it for a while, the Queen came home from mutual and told me that the Bishop had asked if he could come over for a visit. He did. It was even more of a shock when he released the Queen from her calling. I am sure she has spent several hours stewing just like I was. I know there have been tears and prayers late into the night. But not for the same reasons. She is a little more concerned about the calling that was extended to the both of us as a result.
The next morning I woke up and sent a follow up email to SnackPack or maybe it was even that night before I went to bed. But as I sat down to the computer, I looked up and saw this weeks verse of scripture for my pondering: Moses 1:39. We all know this scripture and can probably quote without even looking it up. The words that stuck out to me - "This is MY work and MY glory..." Why was I getting so upset, frustrated, and ranty about not having a calling? Why was I thinking about how it affected me?
There you go, that is my question: WHY? How often do we all get caught up in these thoughts? It is not about us. It is about Him. It is His work, His glory. We are just laborers in the vineyard. It will happen with or without us. But what will we miss out on if we are not part of it. Isn't that something that we all worry about? What am I going to miss out on? What is in it for me? There is so much we will miss out on, so much in it for us, if we just start looking at, working towards, and serving with that thought in mind. It is Him not us/me.
There are my thoughts for this week. I have learned so much more today that I will share at another time.
As far as our week does..it was a week.
The Queen worked a different shift every single day. Some early, some late. I already mentioned that she was released, so now her mind has turned to wrapping things up. I don't think she is thinking about her new calling. I on the other hand am having a hard time focusing on the one I have until it is announced over the pulpit.
The Professor continued lesson planning, ward planning, and just hanging out. We were glad she invited a Songbird over for dinner this weekend. It was nice to just hang out with her as well.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo are trying to settle in, catch up, and figure out the things of life. We have had a couple opportunities to hang with them this weekend. It was nice to see and hear what they are up to. Ehl-Bo has been super crafty. Tall Man is working with his hands and getting paid for it.
We look forward to hearing from the rest of you soon.
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