If You Like Your Job, You Never Work A Day

Colossians 3:23

"Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others"

I would venture to say that when most people think of a Veteran they picture the aged man who fought in World War II, the Korean War, or Vietnam.  But did you know that the US has been involved in 13 military engagements since Vietnam?  The face of the Veteran is the aged man, and is also the very young man.  I am a Veteran.  I served in the United States Air Force for almost 10 years.  I was lucky though.  I spent most nights in the comfort of my own bed and was consistently in the company of my loving wife.  The longest time I was apart from her was a deployment of 60 days; a far cry from the consecutive years away that many have served.  I write this blog in a freedom of expression and in a freedom of religion that people have fought hard to preserve for our country.  Many have sacrificed their time with family, their personal goals, their limbs, and even their lives to ensure I have this right.  While serving I never got the typed orders that put me in harm's way.  For that, I am thankful, but to be honest, I also feel guilt.  I was lucky enough to never be in a situation where my family needed me and I was unable to be there.  I have been lucky enough to hold my children the moment they were born and say prayers with them and kiss them good night most nights since.  There are children who still have not met their fathers and some that never will.  I chose to serve my country, but God protected me and my family.

I have been frustrated lately, because I feel that God is calling me to do something to help this community that I care so much about.  I want to serve them as they have so valiantly served all of us.  I want to share the glory of the Word with those who are suffering wounds, anguish, and loss.  I work for the Department of Veterans Affairs now so that I can help this community of protectors, but the job is mired in administrivia and the practicality of helping the Veteran is low.  This week, my directorate is being reorganized for the third time in a year.  There is no work being done for the Veteran it seems because the agenda keeps changing.  The mission appears to be determining who is in charge, not how we work together to help.  Sure I am an idealist.  I get that.  But if we are doing all our work as if we are working for the Lord, shouldn't we all be idealists?  Shouldn't the obstacles be the exception to the rule and not the daily routine?

I have thoughts of being a chaplain sometimes, but there are some denominational issues that have to be worked through for that to occur.  Also, I am not sure that is really what God is calling me to do.  But I do know he is calling me to help.  I wish to offer encouragement, hope, and love to a group of people who have demonstrated those characteristics for us all.  I pray tonight that God gives me wisdom to discern his voice and I pray that he gives me courage to stand up for things that are just and right and the strength to act accordingly.

The truth is we all have a calling from God.  Max Lucado has a great book about it titled, "When God Whispers Your Name".  I think we all have days like I had today, where we wonder if what we are doing is what God intended for us.  Is this our lot in life?  Is this God's plan?  The verse above minces no words in its commands.  No matter what our work is, no matter how mundane it seems or meaningless it seems, we should take pride in it because we are working for Him, and as the following verse states, "from the Lord we will receive the proper inheritance".

Bike Training:
I worked in 18 miles in an hour.  I was pretty excited about this because I had the resistance set about medium on the trainer.  Without getting much roadwork in, I am a bit nervous about the first 20 miles of the VV.  But I think I am getting stronger...in more ways than one.;-)