My life as a dragon, prodigal and Jonah

If I had to pick who I related most to in the Bible I would have to say it is a cross between Jonah and the Prodigal son.  Jonah heard God's call but ran away because he was scared.  The prodigal son thought he was good enough to make life on his own so he took his inheritance and ran away with it; realizing that he couldn't make it on his own.  To many times I think I can handle life on my own so I'm like ok Dear Jesus fill me with your spirit so then I can go and face the earth on my own.  Which I might tackle for a little bit at first, but "his inheritance" then is gone and I'm without anything.  Or Jesus is like hey tricia how about this and I"m like nahh I cant do that, I'm gonna run away over here.  Either way I'm running away on my own without Jesus really on my side.  I know He's there, but I'm not choosing to allow him to work through me and have his power at work.  I'm taking things into my own hands thinking that I can get the job done or can find something better to do.  This is awful, cause there is no way that I'm able do anything on my own.  When I do I literally end up eating crap with the pigs or become vomit.  Jesus has given me so much that I get greedy and tend to run with the little power I think I have.

It kind of reminds me of Eustace in C.S. Lewis' The Voyage of the Dawn Treader when they stop on an island filled with gold.  Eustace finds this huge collection of gold and wants to take as much as he can, he puts a bracelet on his arm and starts stuffing his pockets, but then he turns into a dragon, cause that's what happens when you get greedy or something.  And unlike the movie, Eustace isn't able to become human again until Aslan comes and breathes on him.  He tried and tried to tear off his scales but it just wasn't working, but with the power of Aslan the scales were able to fall off.  And yes this was a painful process as he was stripped of his true greedy self into the individual he was created to be.

See Eustace was so consumed about all of the riches that were provided he become extremely greedy and literally an awful creature.  And the only way for him to become himself he had to go through a painful "refining" process.  Jesus has given us all we need and the blessings we do receive we are to also give away and not hoard them.  Those riches were never meant for Eustaces use.  I don't know what they were really were for.  But my point is that Eustace was surrounded by great wealth and only thought about himself and not how it could be used for others.  Now thats a far stretch cause I don't think you are supposed to mess with dragons treasure...but the story of greed and turning into a dragon goes along in my head with running with my inheritance early and not getting the full package.

I'm impatient and don't really want to wait for what God has in-store for me, I don't wanna go through a refining process to shed my old skin. Even tho all of those things are for the best. Sometimes I see the power of Jesus and just run with it thinking I can do all things on my own.  Or I'm the opposite and I become fearful of what Jesus wants me to do and flee.  Either way I'm not running in the direction I need to.  I need to stop running and just see what God has in store for me and use his resources to help me instead of just keepings his blessings for the betterment of my self.

No NSO For Me

This is my first fall of not going to school and its weird to think that I'm not going but new students are filling in.  I can't believe how much I miss NSO weekend at Greenville.  Mostly because this would be the time I would be reuniting with my friends whom I hadn't seen for a few months and watching all the freshman come in.  I would feel like my life was starting to get in order.  Even tho I didn't move into Greenville in August last year, I knew I would be in a few months.  But now I'm seeing all the statuses about heading to college and sitting at home trying to figure out my next life steps.  I have a good plan set, but its not the same.  Life is going to change so much in this next year.  I know good can come out of it, and I'm ready for some changes like having a job and my own place.  Its just the not knowing what this change will bring, but I can't worry about that.  I've got stuff in front of me I have to deal with instead of looking a year down the road.

Honestly I kind of want my life to be like the set of "how I met your mother."  Granted I don't want to be Ted, but I love the community they have.

Life is messy.

I remember my freshman year of college thinking man this is kinda hard, and then hearing my RC say enjoy it now cause it gets harder.  And I thought to myself, it can't get any harder.  But it did my sophomore year, granted all my classes were upper division, but still.  I don't know why but that little phrase has stuck with me ever since, reminding me there is always going to be a greater challenge ahead of me and that I'm going to get through this one.

Looking back, my freshman year was easy, even tho it down right sucked as I adjusted to having numerous people pass away and adjusting from doing homework on my own time to a professors time.  I survived and then had the best four years of my life. Plus I made some of the most meaningful relationships of my life and wouldn't change it for the world.  

Even though I can look at my past and see where I survived and know things will eventually get better, I still get caught up with that wonderful thing called fear. Fear that all of this new change won't be as rewarding. Fear of not working with my passions.  And fear of not keeping the friendships I made the last few years. As much as I'd love to just shake them off, they tend to sneak back into my life.

I need to be patient. I can't have everything fall into place at the snap my fingers.  It would be nice, but life doesn't work like that.  And when I stop my brain from running down the awful track of fears and disappointments I see that I'm actually in an ok place.  There are so many people out there with much less and more lost than me.  My name is tricia thacker and I'm a scared, selfish lil American.

Kentucky

I went to KY and did my job shadow interview. I got down there and they were like ok lets go, because the job was going door to door of certain at&t customers to see if they wanted to switch their cable to the new uverse. Exciting stuff right there.  The day actually wasn't bad, and I was entertained as we walked door to door, talked to customers and witnessed  an accounting manager train a new person.  The day ended and I felt confident about my interactions and was informed that I would know if I received the job the next afternoon.  Driving home I knew I had to decide if I actually wanted this job before they called me.

Even though I enjoyed my day, I wasn't a fan of what the work entailed.  I envisioned myself down the road and I wasn't a fan of what I saw.  I'd be a business focused individual, learning how to play people in order to make a sale and make my commission. Also the work hours were M-F from 11-8 and Sat 10:30-5:30 so it knocked out my opportunity to be involved with after school programs or other evening volunteer opportunities.  The only plus side I was seeing of this was the pay check. And that wasn't enough to convince me to say yes.

They called like they said they would.  I personally didn't think I got the job, but as the praise continued from the assistant manager, she informed me that I had gotten the job! I was excited, even tho I decided to decline, because their was an ample amount of people that applied.  It was a nice lil self esteem boost to let me realize I can get a job.  Some might think I'm crazy for saying no especially since the pay was really good, but I just couldn't find contentment with a good pay check.  I know Jesus has instilled in me this passion to work with people through their struggles and that I'll find the job that does that.  Even if it means a boring office job and then just volunteering afterwards.

Interviews

So I did another job interview.  And as I was asked the questions of what I see myself doing and what are my ultimate career goals.  I found myself spewing out things like I don't care about moving up the social ladder; I just want to be able to find a good organization to work with people; and have my benefits consist of seeing people make changes toward the better.  The manager interviewing me was like "oh, you have such a big heart, the world would be a much better place if people were like you." I don't know if that's true.  I just think we should all use our talents to help others and not constantly make personal gains.  To be honest, I think he was slightly confused at first when I was informing him of my goals, because the interview was for a marketing and sales job.

I'm still kinda confused why I did the interview myself, but it happened.  I was going through the list of jobs and this one said "sense of humor needed!" in the job title so I applied just because.  It was kind of a joke.  Then what do you know I got a phone interview and passed and now have a second job shadow interview Wednesday.  I have no idea if I'll get the job or if I truly do want it, but I'm leaving the door open. Jesus knows what He's doing. This wouldn't be an awful opportunity for me, it would actually be a good one.  Its a entree level training job so I'd learn how to do management, which could help if I actually want to have my own NPO or run a NPO.  I just wouldn't be able to work with an organization that was making a difference. And I also applied to other jobs of organizations I would love to work with, but I have no idea where I stand with those.  I'm just going to have to be patient and see what happens this next week.

Blogs

So half the time I write a blog I have no idea what I'm going to say or how it is going to end.  I just know that I have thoughts all meshed up in my brain and need to get them out somehow.  Sometimes I don't even realize what I put in my blog until I go back and read it later and then I'm like "oh, huh that's what I was thinking?"  I still occasionally go back to my old DC/Thailand blog and see what I was going through and how Jesus helped straighten me out.  I find my old random confused thoughts to be encouraging or helpful in a situation.

I don't know what I'm doing, I slide by the skin of my teeth all the time.  And I think I'm ok with it.  It allows for Jesus to constantly intervene in my life. Granted I would love for my next few years to be figured out, but their not and I'm never going to know the future.  I always find it hilarious when people are like you don't know what you're doing, you're so organized. Ha. no.  I might be organized, but that doesn't mean I have my life figured out.  Jesus is planning my life everyday and I'm just along for the ride and I hope to shine His light during it all.

Change and Moving Forward

I was talking with a friend about changes after college and how they're going to be so different and at times terrifying as all get out.  In my head its still summer vacation, nothing has really changed from all the other years.  Except that I'm done with school and now have to start being a responsible adult.  I don't think graduation will fully kick in until I have a job and its August and I'm not back at my beloved alma mater.

As the conversation continued, I realized that the change wasn't the sad and scary part for me.  The part I struggle with is leaving Greenville behind.  I had a great time there and made amazing friendships I don't want to move on from, but the time for our ties to severe happened.  I know friendships will still continue even if we can't see each other all the time, but its going to be different.  And as much as Greenville loves that different is good, I'm not a fan of this difference.  I am excited for what the future holds for me and the impact I'll be able to make on society.  Yet there's a part of me that is clinging on to Greenville and making it difficult for me to move forward.

I did this last summer when I interned with Wycliffe and it sucked.  I was constantly thinking about Greenville and wanting it to be there that I was miserable at times.  Just because I couldn't embrace what was going on around me.  After that summer I told myself I never wanted to do that and I've done really well this summer.  Its all about finding a balance and not letting my brain get stuck in the past and not able to do things in the present.  Yes I would love for all my Greenville people to live around me and maybe in the same house, but that's not how life goes.  I need to cherish the memories and still continue on with my life.  I can't go back and the road to try to go back is just sad dark place.