When my job finally felt like a ministry: Reflections on Hurricane Katrina

Today, on the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, I want to share with you something I learned from that tragedy.

My husband and I grew up in south Mississippi and have lived in Louisiana (including New Orleans) and south Alabama.  So, we pretty much grew up hearing about hurricanes. I remember my parents discussing Hurricane Camille being the worst Hurricane in the country in history.  Of course, that was before Katrina, who I believe takes that distinction now.

We lived in East Brewton, Alabama when Hurricane Ivan hit that area. After the storm passed through, we only had tree branches down all around our house; but, no damage to the house. We were without power for a week, I think.  As a side note, I would like to encourage you to give to disaster relief organizations.

When you have been without power for several days, there is nothing sweeter than the sound of big rigs coming to your neighborhood to deliver cold water and ice.  It really makes you appreciate the little things.  Also, you become so ready to eat something besides potted meat and crackers, which is something I would never eat normally!  :-p

Anyway, I digress! Reading the title, you may have assumed that we lived in New Orleans or on the Gulf Coast when Katrina hit that area.  However, we lived in Brookhaven, MS at the time. Brookhaven is about two hours inland.  There was damage to the area; but, it was mostly due to the tornado spinoffs.  We were without power for a few days; but, it was nothing like the Gulf Coast.

My husband has been a minister for 18 years of the 23 years that we have been married.  I am currently working as a ministry assistant/financial secretary for a Baptist association; so, I'm technically still in the "ministry."

However, back in 2005, I worked for a regional cell phone carrier as a customer service representative in their call center. I don't know how many of you have ever worked in a call center; but, let's just say that, most people do not generally speaking call to brag on their service....instead, they are mad; because their cellphone dropped a call, text messages will not go through, the bill was higher than they thought it would be, and anything else that you can think of.  Usually, you are trying to calm them down.  It was very difficult to see that job as a ministry.

We re-opened the day after Hurricane Katrina made landfall. That day, we didn't have customers who were mad.  They were scared and desperate. Many of them had family members who were missing.  They were desperate to get them to answer their phones.  Some of them, after spending hours on the phone with my family and insurance companies, were scared about how much they would owe our company.

That day (weeks and probably months) that job felt most like a ministry.  When someone called looking for a loved one, we took the number and dialed the number over and over.  It was the company's hope that we would be able to help connect them.  In some cases, we were.  We also able to give credits to many cellphone bills.

It was a wonderful thing to see and to be a small part of.  That company was not the only company who took the same approach during that time.  Many businesses were forgiving debts/bills to help those who were hurting.

I had been praying for God to provide me a different job; because, it was so stressful.  He did that just a couple of months later. However, I am glad He kept me there during that post-Katrina month.  I would have missed that month of helping those who were hurting.

So, my encouragement for today is even when you hate your job, pray and ask God to help you to not miss the ministry opportunities.  They may not be of Katrina proportions; but, it could still be huge to a person who is struggling.

Also, when you are praying for God to provide you a new job and He has not answered yet...maybe, just maybe, there's something about to happen that He doesn't want you to miss!  :-)

The Dreaded "Why" Questions

Today is my oldest son Jacob's 22nd birthday!

I have been thinking about how quickly time flies and yet, seems to stand still.  I don't really feel old enough to have a 22 year old son.  In ways, I still feel rather young, except that I am always exhausted.  Still feeling young may be due in part to the fact that my husband, Joel, is a few years older than I am.  ;-P

Anyway, I have thought a lot about how much Jacob has changed over the years and one thought came to my mind over and over.  It was the "why" questions.  I'm sure you know what I mean.  You have heard them over the years from various parents, the "Why is the sky blue?" type questions.  You've heard the jokes from parents about how they wish there was not so many "why" questions.

When Jacob was young, he had a ton of "why" questions.  He is kind of quiet; so, I learned to enjoy those "why" questions.  It was like a window into his mind.  It seemed his favorite place to bring up his questions was while we were in the car.  Sometimes, I looked for reasons to go somewhere, just so he would ask me questions.

His "why" questions never stopped.  They just became deeper, more spiritual, more political; you name it.  Sometimes, I don't know the answer to "why" people do the things they do.  Honestly, he doesn't expect me to know all the answers anyway.  I've had to tell him that "I don't know" more than once.

The thing that I struggle with most is knowing how to answer all of his questions; but, the thing that I love most about Jacob is that he is NOT afraid to ask those tough questions.  In hindsight, I am thankful that Joel and I encouraged him to continue to question what he did not understand.  I'm grateful that he does not accept every opinion that he comes across and instead tries to figure out why he believes what he believes. He never accepts anything just because he was told he should.

So my encouragement for today is to the parents of young children...I know that it is tiring when 50 million "why" questions comes out, all at once.  However, consider this...when they grow up and are out on their own one day, they will bombarded with a lot of different viewpoints.  If you encourage those "whys" now, maybe they'll questioning those viewpoints later in life.  Maybe...they'll even come to you and ask you what you believe about those viewpoints; because, they know you will encourage those questions.

To Jacob, thank you for challenging me and for understanding when all I could say was, "I don't know!"  Happy Birthday!

Drinking my coffee alone......

As I sat alone this morning drinking my coffee, bittersweet memories came to mind. 

For the last year or so, it became the morning routine to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee with my youngest son.  We have always joked that Michael was definitely "my son" in personality and looks; however, the older that he has gotten the more I see his dad in him.  But, when it comes to waking up in the morning, we both kind of like to wake up slowly.  That's why the coffee time happened every morning.  It was our process for waking up without feeling rushed.

Each morning, we would watch Good Morning America.  We would talk about the stories and laugh at the viral videos (especially if a cat or dog was involved).  I don't know how he felt about those mornings; but, for me that was our time.  There came a time, over the last year, where he was not around much at night...between being a Senior in high school, working a job, and being very involved in community theatre. 

This weekend, Michael leaves for college.  We are really fortunate that he was given an opportunity to go to a college that is just 40 minutes away.  He will be able to come home on the weekends.  However, I know that his schedule will remain busy; so, I know that those morning cups of coffee will be few and far between.

Over the last few days, I have been thinking about how much I am dreading taking him to his new apartment to move him in.  Many of those times, I have pushed back tears.  It's a strange feeling for sure. 

See, I never cried when I took my sons to their first day of school or the many of other "firsts"...not that there is anything wrong with that.  It's just not my personality.  Instead, I would stand there smiling and thinking, "I can't wait to see how he handles this."  I couldn't wait until they could tell me about the experience.

That's why my response has taken me by surprise.  My husband, Joel, says that it is because with the other firsts, he came home every night.  I suppose that that is true.  Probably also...the realization that this time he is on his own. 

I do know that I am still very much excited to see what happens with Michael and how God may use him in the future.  He has been given an excellent opportunity at college.  He is amazingly talented in performing arts and only seems to get better every time I see him.  He worked very hard to get where he is and I am so proud of him.

As much as, there is a part of me, that would love to keep him at home...I know that this is his time to shine.  That all those firsts, that I always encouraged him to do, were best for him.  I wanted both my sons to know that they could do anything.  My husband and I tell them all the time not to say "No" for other people.

So my encouragement for you today is this...

Young mom who is watching all of those firsts right now, I know it is hard to see them grow up.  However, when they come home all excited about the first day school, listen intently and with excitement about what they are doing.  All these opportunities are what God uses to shape them into the man/woman that they will be one day.  Encourage them that they can do anything.

Recent "Empty Nesters"...don't you hate that term?  Hang in there!  You watched those firsts and now you have to let go (for their sake).  We can do this!

For me, it probably won't be without tears.  I'm sorry, Michael; but, I will probably embarrass you on move-in day. 

I will say this for sure...I will probably miss you most during my morning cup of coffee!