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Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.

Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Opus 2012-188, Living with Choices

My father rejected the model of the corporate employee.  He had a strong desire to not work for “the man.”  He paid his dues.  He had a family to support.  He was not a starry-eyed idealist who lived off his wife or parents.  He did what he had to do.

But he had a dream.  Wanted to be his own man.  He wanted to be self employed.  He started his own construction business and eventually qualified for a general contractor’s license.  He made less but lived life on his terms.

He paid the price for that dream.  There are things you give up when you start a small business and everything hangs on your shoulders.  You take few vacations.  No one pays the self employed when they take off.  There was no fancy retirement plan.  We never had health insurance.

We did not suffer for it.  We never went hungry.  I had holes in the knees of my jeans before it was a fashion statement, but we had iron on patches.  There were rewards that came from his determination that are often overlooked in our paycheck oriented society. 

We were blessed by his example.  I have three brothers.  Among us we have no police records,  no divorce and no children out of wedlock. 

He died with no money in the bank but also with no big debts.  A few days before he died unexpectedly he was surrounded by children and grandchildren.  All of them enjoyed being with him.

Choices have consequences.  He was rewarded.  I pray that I will come close and that you will also see the joys that are possible.

homo unius libri

2 comments:

  1. I used to be self-employed, but had to give it up due to a wife lacking proper self-control and understanding, two things much needed by the spouse of a self-employed person.

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  2. There are certain people who should not be self-employed. I am one, I don't have the drive. My son is another.

    My wife is a mixed verdict. She has the instincts but she depends on my steady income to keep her above water.

    My dad could not have made it today. He never did understand the way in which buying on credit can eat you up. When he was in business and developing his credit the material yards did not start heaping 18% interest on every penny past due. By the end of his work career they were. He would have gone belly up now.

    Grace and peace.

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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.