Thankfulness

Today was an opportunity to get together with family and reconnect.  We spent the day making casseroles and frying turkey at my moms house.  My brother and I did most of it, and we didn't mind one bit. My limited cooking skills didn't cause any grease fires so I was happy, and my brother's considerably more capable skills made sure it was all delicious.  But in the end, what we are all most thankful for are the changes God is bringing about in our lives right now.

Here's the short list:

Jen and I are expecting our first baby next June.

My brother Matt and his wife are expecting their first TWO babies in March.

Mom is successfully recovering from back surgery.

Grandpa has in recent years forgiven old hurts and reconciled relationships that had been neglected for decades.

The list could go on and on, but it all comes down to one thing over and over again.  All in all: God is taking care of us during hard times and provides all we need to not only survive, but to thrive. So as the world ramps up around me for the Christmas rush, I want to make sure I stay focused on what it most important and just say, "Thanks God."

-Dave

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.

Coins

A few months ago a truck driver needed unloaded at work, and since my material handler was out that night, I was pulling his goods off the truck.  It took longer than if the regular guy had done it, because I'm just not as good as him. Plus I kept having to stop and take care of the various responsibilities of my own job.  Eventually I got it done and was filling out his shipping receipt when he walked up to me and started a conversation I did not expect.

He told me that he thought it still looked like a good company to work for, and how he wished he hadn't had to leave a few years ago when the economy went bad.  Then he did what made me remember him: He handed me a single gold $1 coin and said, "Here you're doing a good job and you should know it."  At first I refused the coin saying that a tip wasn't appropriate, but he insisted.  He said that it wasn't a tip, but rather a reminder to keep up the good work.  He said, "You're a good man, and you're working hard at doing a good job.  Keep it to remind you."

I still have the coin.  And on days when I need the reminder, I carry it in my pocket.

-Dave

Proverbs 18:21 (The Message)
 Words kill, words give life;
     they're either poison or fruit-you choose.

Communication

When I was in the military, one of the major areas of focus was on quick, concise and clear communication.  Everyone understood that failure to do so could be a matter of life or death someday, so getting it right was something that was constantly worked on.  There were specific lists of what was necessary for a successful message, and exact methods for ensuring those lists were covered.  This kind of information was deemed "mission critical" and (ideally) great lengths would be taken to disseminate it.  However, no matter the lengths taken, good communication was something that was always difficult.

In my current job, communication is something we struggle with as well.  We all understand that we want to maximize what we can do, without compromising on quality. However, shift changes may or may not include all the information that is most important to the next 12 hours to keep all the machines running as much as we can. Working men and women may not even have even given their supervisors this mission critical feedback, so it can't be passed on.  Shift leads may be overloaded and too busy solving the current crisis, be unwilling to take the time, or just not think it's needed.  Managers are often overloaded as well trying to schedule to meet demand while inspecting for quality and coordinating teams of people.  Quite honestly it's exhausting.   And to top it off I'm the new guy, so I am not even always sure what is critical, and the poor guy that follows me has to sort through a list of potentially useful information while I try to learn what is mission critical.

But, it is getting better.  We aren't there yet.  But it's getting better.  New people are learning what questions to ask.  Adjustments are being made in who is on what shift and what task or tasks they are doing.   My managers are constantly coaching and teaching me, offering me advice when I need it.  For that I'm thankful, because it's going to take time, and without the support and advice of those who do know, the rest of us will never know.  That advice, is simply a beautiful thing.

Dave

Proverbs 25:11 The right word at the right time is like precious gold set in silver
Proverbs 11:14 Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.

Woot! Fan club of 1

I have a follower!  I'm not sure what that means, but it feels pretty encouraging.

I started my blog last week, and somehow my good friend has already found it.  To her and her husband, thanks for caring enough about me to seek it out.  I'm not even sure how they found it as I don't even think my wife had read it yet.  Anyway, I always enjoy their blogs, so if anyone else reads this thing, they should go check em out:
lilshoemaker.blogspot.com
and
bigshoemaker.blogspot.com

Dave

2 Tim 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousnesses, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

A Rough Day

The idea of blogging is something I have kicked around for over a year now.  I keep thinking after work, or church, or a conversation, or reading something, "Man, I really learned something there, and maybe someone else would learn something from it too.  Maybe I should start a blog"

Sometimes the things I learn are just good, sometimes they are heartbreaking. Tonight was the latter. Tonight something happened at work that taught me a lesson, and I have to share it, even if it's to a blog that no one is reading, or even knows is being written.

The phone rang, and it was an employee's wife, panicked for the health of their unborn child.  I passed it on to him and he left immediately. He rushed home and took her to the hospital, saying on his way out the door, "Man this has been a hard year..."  Less than 6 hours later, he called to tell me that they had lost the child.  

I had no idea what to say.

My heart is breaking for them in ways I never expected.  I can't imagine what it must have been like for him to make that drive.  He just came to my shift yesterday, and in the face of this tragedy, I feel like I have nothing to offer him in comfort, or wisdom.   We didn't even know each other's last names, and yet as we hastily scribbled down phone numbers, I felt like I should be trying to help this guy somehow. 

I can't do much right now.  But I can pray for him, so I will.  

God be with him and his family.  Give them comfort, and let them know that you are a source of strength and peace that is not limited by tough situations.  May they know that even when they feel overwhelmed, you are big enough to handle it, and may they turn to you.
Amen

Dave

I'm going to go wake up my wife so I can hold her for a while.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

 ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.