Joyska's Journal: June 2008











Thursday, June 19, 2008

At work we talk alot about what our purpose is as an organization, and as individuals who work there. At a recent meeting we "narrowed it down" to this one scripture... "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength" and of course the next part goes without saying " and love your neighbour as yourself". We now have a painting of the verse in our office. It's a great reminder of what our daily prupose is, and it's also a challenge. There are days when my purpose is just to get through the day without being overwhelmed by the stories and the pain. There are days when my purpose seems to be more about restoring dignity and hearing and acknowledging peopele and their struggles as valid, and there honestly are days my purpose is just to get through the day.

But the reminder and challenge of my purpose being to LOVE GOD, MY NEIGHBOUR and MYSELF keeps me centered on why I am really there. And it challenges me to rise above my own day to day anxieties or worries. God is brilliant to narrow it all down to that. Basically saying... If you love ME first, the rest falls into place.

I want my life to fall into place with God. I desire to see what He is doing and join Him, rather than do my own thing and ask Him to come along. Not always so easy though. My job requires a lot of emotional strength, a lot of compassion, and a ton of love for those that society often ignores. Sometimes that requirement leaves me a little empty on the side of love for myself and sometimes even God. But that is where His faithfulness comes in. He always reminds me of His love for the ones I work with, and His love for me. It's not a one way street. His command is to love Him with everything we are, and to love our neighbours and ourselves. He already does... and the rest is simply our response.

That is brilliant.
Joyska at 8:43 AM
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Saturday, June 07, 2008

where are you coming from and where are you going

I was reading Genesis last night and the story of Sarai and Hagar. Sarai had gone ahead of God's plan to provide a child for Abram and gave him her servant Hagar as a wife. Hagar became pregnant and found herself despised by Sarai. Sarai then sent her away. In the desert, Hagar encounters an angel that asks her two important questions... Where are you coming from? and Where are you going?

They are good questions. They are questions that I ask at work on a regular basis. Where have you come from? (or essentially, what brought you here?) and Where are you headed? (essentially, what's next for you?) The questions aren't just curiousity. They are questions of direction, growth, and focus. By seeing where we've been we see what we've learned, what we've experienced, how we've made mistakes, what we've done well. By thinking about where we are going we can make a plan, find a focus, dream big, or face the difficult as in Hagar's case.

Good questions. I have more rumbling in my head about this but it is off to work I go... More will come later :)
Joyska at 5:04 AM
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