Hum-Drum:
The twinkle in you[r] i
Awaken
Arise
Blink
Suprise - -
morning is here
Already.
Its hard to hold
steady
Iron
Shave
Eat what you
crave
Then it's back:
routine
Doing the same
thing
once more.
What I would like to know is what puts the twinkle in the hum-drum of your life? What puts the sparkle in your routine?
Going to work today was the same old, same old. I work at a Doctor's office. Receptionist? No. Nurse, definitely not. Physician's assistant (PA) - ha ha ha, I would kill someone. No, I am the not anything close to anyone important. On the contrary, I am the glamorous filer. Do you know what that means? It means overworked and underpaid. Well, it's like this: I get a chart; I put it away. I write information in a different chart, fax the contents of poor old what's-his-face, put the 50th stamp on the 49th envelope (don't ask about the extra stamp - bad memories). The same patients come in. Okay, well, they're not technically the same, but I guess they all should wear identity badges because I get Roger (who hurt his foot) confused with Edgar (who is also 85 and has a wicked swing in golf) with Albert who needs dental work but for some reason wound up at our office.
Then come the stories. Everyone has a story. You should hear the voicemails at work. It's what I call the eternal voicemail. It goes something like this:
"Hey, this is Sharon. I was cutting carrots when I sliced the tip of my finger. It startled me so much that I dropped the carrot I was holding at the time which fell - it hit my foot, and well, there's only a small bruise there - that's not really why I'm calling you see, but it's my finger. The one I cut. I was using that knife, it was just a betty crocker special - I love reading her magazines, and my sister got one so I just had to; it works great for peeling potatoes. But you see my finger, it's got this cut on it and well I think it might be infected. I was just wondering if you could work me into your schedule (already overbooked) and help me figure out what is going on. .Thanks! Bye."
Or, they come in and want to tell you all sorts of stories personally. Do you know how hard it is to set up an appointment for Mr. Thomson while Sally Crate is telling you about little Tommy's 2-inch gash. It's hard! You have to smile, nod appreciatively, and keep clacking away at the typewriter. The bad thing is when you smile instead of grimacing - yeah that's not so great; it doesn't go over so well. It's like,
"And then Tommy. . .he fell in the well."
Receptionist nods appreciatively. At the pause she glances up, "You say he did well?"
"No, fell in the well"
(Over dramatized gasp for effect to cover the auditory blunder of the century) "No!"
"Yes! I tell you he did, and land sakes alive I thought he was gone. He was gooone! But then Joe came. . ."
Type-type-type; clackety, clackety, clackety.
I find my thoughts vaguely wondering, quite often, as my fingers move repititiously in their trained pattern over the envelopes. My eyes drift to the clock. I think they slow clocks down after they reach 4:45. You ever noticed that? It's like, 4:30. . .yes! Now, 4:45, 15 more minutes, come on, and then. . .2 years later...5:00. What do you do when your mind is numb?
If I'm not careful, my thoughts go straight to myself and my oh-so-valuable schedule. What am I going to do after penititionary, I mean, work? I wonder what I'll eat for dinner. Why on earth did I wear these earrings? What was I thinking when these shoes were on sale - couldn't I tell they would hurt. I wonder when my boyfriend will call; he's such a darling. Oh, man, did I put gas in my car this morning? Pizza sounds really good right now.
After work, I find it is easy to get annoyed at the hum drum of life. How can I change this? It's easy to come into work with a smile, maintain it for about 3 hours, then resurrect it after lunch, but what about smiling at all hours of the time. I don't mean your face has to smile - but your heart needs to glow. I have decided that I am tired of complaining in my heart about my schedule or the routine. I'm tired of listening to the same old, same old at work. What can I do?
Well, it all starts with God. Yeah, okay, obviously, but what does that mean, exactly? He is the One on whom ALL of my thoughts of my heart should focus. Am I loving him most or myself? What can I learn from routine? Look at the people you see every day. Every day. What can they teach you about life? I"ve learned that people are craving for someone's attention and love. Even a stranger's! So take the time to listen to the people at church. I know they say the same things - but that doesn't matter; it's not the point. The relevancy of the conversation does not always consist on the substance of the discussion of information. You are establishing a relationship; you're communicating your care. It doesn't matter if you don't mention yourself once. What matters is that they see Christ.
It's all about praise. Praise God all-of-the-time. All the time! Praise God. Why? Scripture tells us to but mainly because He IS worthy. Does it help? Yes, but why? It directs your thoughts; it increases your love for the Savior; it helps you remember why your little life matters: because God is. Because God has redeemed you. So don't forget about him.
