Thursday, March 26, 2015

Frustrating People

Ya, I know. It's funny. I have been a frustrating person (turns out I'm pretty good at it) and I have also had to deal with people that frustrate me to no end. So I have experience at both ends of that spectrum.

For myself, I think I am an acquired taste. Some try and try, but they just can't find a way to be able to warm up to me. It's mostly because I do not cooperate. I do not trust easily and if I sense any trace in you of the manipulator or user, you just ain't gettin in my head. Sorry. But I am also very set in everything I do and that gets on peoples nerves. I refer to it as my 'Aspergers like demeanor'. I have purpose and intention. I do not need your interference. Just stand back as the feces hit the oscillating wind device.

The people that frustrate me are the ones that always want to help me or involve me in their plans or find a place for me in their big picture. Problem is that I do not usually want to play. Please do not try to make me play. You want to be my friend? Then let me be. Do not frustrate me. I have work to do.

Ya, but what about growth and working together and being involved with each other?

What about it? Why do things always have to be a group activity? Are you so unsuccessful on your own that you need me? Come on. I'm sorry, but a bunch of people pooling their ignorance on a subject does not promote growth.

There is much to be said for the solitary life. Frustrating huh?   

Work, A Job, An Occupation, A Career or A Calling

Which one of those do you have? I pretty much just have a job. It could have been a career had I chosen the path ever upward in the pyramid of authority, but I did not. I always thought it required too much personal compromise. This groundhog has principles. One of them is not to be a corporate shill for the sake of advancement and wealth.

I may have had a calling or callings at one time, but I managed to successfully ignore them. A calling is work that you have a potential to really be good at. It usually involves work that is not necessarily profitable, but serves the greater purpose of humanity or God or even self fulfillment. Callings are enjoyable for the most part, even though drudgery may be involved. People that have a calling to do a specific thing cannot see their way clear to do anything else. They fail at other things because other things do not work for them. There is no fulfillment or joy in the success at other things.

The callings that I denied in my life are at least two. If I had been on top of it when I was younger, I might have been able to write for a living. I also might have been able to teach. If the subject is right, you cannot shut me up about it. I do a bit of both of these in my job. I also teach at church, but it's far from enough to make me consider a switch at this late age which is 57. I dabble.

I know at least a couple of people that have callings and practice them. Their particular callings are frustrating to them. They both love it and hate it and consider walking away frequently. My advice to them is, do not do it. A calling is a sort of gift. For my money, it's a gift from God. You should not walk away from it, especially if the pull is strong despite the dissatisfaction. Serving a purpose greater than yourself, whether it be God or people, is not only noble, it is a privilege. Take hold of it and make it your own as best you can and let God sort out the details. He just needs you to do whatever it is. So what if you never see any fruit from it? It does not mean it is not serving the intended purpose.

Perseverance is the key. Think about Moses. Think about the first generations of Americans. Think about the work Paul did to keep the Church growing in it's infancy.

I will leave you with this:

Colossians 3:15-17  


15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.