Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 22, 2023
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Conversation at the bar
At Bunny’s Marc is bartending again. He has been picking up other peoples’ shifts and working almost every night. I finally arrived in Urbana yesterday, sat across from him and ordered grilled cheese and chili. But he said I should get the Prime Rib and cheese sandwich instead, so I did. Good choice!
I talked awhile to another Dave, with a blue T-shirt that said Dad on the back. For the first time in 25 years working with computers, he has a bad boss. He was a good boss, but something changed and now he is removing resources and generating lots of negativity, which starts with himself and extends to others.
I felt sad for Dave. He said, “Don’t worry about me; I’ll make it OK.” And maybe he will. He doesn’t seem to let his complaints fester beneath the surface.
First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun and the land Naphtali, but in the end he has glorified the seaward road.
I have had a few bad bosses. Someone suggested I balance my mind a bit by listing something good about the boss next to every bad thing. Making the list, and then seeing it in my mind changed my thoughts. Plus I remembered more often to pray for my boss – not that he would change, but that he would fall down on his face in humility before God. And then I remembered I should pray for myself too, and fall down on my face in humility before God. After that, it was easier to go to work on Monday.
Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness. There is no gloom where but now there was distress. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown.
The “balancing” required a certain amount of denial, but not as much as I expected. Initiating pleasantries with an unpleasant person is kind of fun, actually. I just have to really squash any sarcasm. If sarcasm is in my mind, it will show up in my inflections. In other words, I need to mean what I say, to see my boss as God sees him, or even better to see my boss as God sees me. Oh yeah, both of us are fearfully and wonderfully made, right?
The yokes that burdened us, the poles on our shoulders, and the rod of our taskmaster you have smashed! You are my light and my salvation.
Marc tore all three hamstring tendons in his right leg at the end of August. I would never have known. He was off work for more than three months. His boss sent him “paychecks” during those months, even though he wasn’t working. He said when he returned it felt like he didn’t miss a beat. He remembered everything, and his body remembered too.
I imagine Marc is very tired at the end of his shift, which often requires that he close the bar. He’s the only worker there for the last three hours sometimes. I felt really proud of him last night. When I sat down he told the guys next to me, “That’s my dad.” They complimented him up and down. “That’s a good son you have right there,” the guy from Houston said. After that we talked about the Texas weather.
Just can’t get away from talking about the weather.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord.
(Isaiah 8, Psalm 27, 1 Corinthians 1, Matthew 4)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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