Many of you know that I have only been at my current job for about 9 months. I was hired to take over for a lady who is retiring. However, she has not yet retired and likely won’t until the end of the year. You see, we are in the midst of a computer software conversion and she is key in getting the information out of the old system and into the new. Speaking of the old system, many such systems are currently at the bottom of the ocean as boat anchors. The program was originally written while I was in college (ahem…..more than a couple of years ago). My technology savvy friends will appreciate that we still use a line printer! While it has served the company well, it will no longer be supported very soon. It is only out of necessity that this huge project was undertaken. And given how well it has gone I now understand why!

Trying to learn this old system has been very humbling! I have literally left work in tears because I couldn’t find the answer to my questions or felt like I may have deleted a months worth of work! For someone who has evolved with software programs over the years, it has been very difficult. Typing commands on a blinking line with a black background and white text is not at all “user-friendly”. This is a far cry from the job I left where people in other departments came to me with questions….and I could usually figure them out!

However, keep in mind that we haven’t yet made the transition to the new software nor do I fully understand the business yet. Many (OK, maybe most) days I feel lost and overwhelmed. It’s a great company and I have a great boss, which keeps me going, but the waiting and learning (waiting to learn AND learning to wait) are killing me. Being hired as “the boss” is very lonely, too. But that is another story.

In a way this is how our life feels as a Christian. We are living our lives here on Earth but longing for the day that we will be with Jesus in Heaven for all eternity. We feel somewhat out of place because this is not really our home. We are undoubtedly here for a reason but many days we wonder why. We have much to learn and the lessons can be painful, frustrating, overwhelming and difficult. Oh, and did I mention waiting? There is much waiting!

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Paul tells the church at Corinth to be of good courage! To me that means that we should have hope. While we would rather be at home with Lord, there is much work to be done. The following verse tells us that eternity is in man’s heart making us feel out of place much of the time.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

I will close with the words of Peter which I find to be encouraging and also tell us what we should be doing until our time comes to be with The Lord.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

Have a great day!