two quick thoughts

So tonight i was reading a little more from The Irresistible Revolution and I came across a great quote from and old Dutch pastor, Kaj Munk: "And remember the signs of the Christian Church have been the Lion, the Lamb, the Dove, and the Fish... but never the chameleon." Far too often the church is full of people like me that accept their daily life, then go home to their own home, insulated from everything in the world. Of course there are always the problems that come up in one's life, but what are the on-going problems in my life when set next to those of one who doesn't have a dinner on a regular basis?

Shane says that he is more afraid of the suburbs than he is of living in the city because the death of the comforted soul is much more of a danger there. I hear that, but at the same time, to stay in the city is to, in a weird way, seek comfort. To avoid the painful numb of comfort by staying out of the 'burbs is almost no different. To be fair, i don't think that is really what he meant, but that is what it made me think about. It is for that reason that, to the dismay of my wife, i almost feel like we should go to a suburban, 'comfortable' church. I think someone with strong thoughts should be there to jar them back out of the chameleon's skin. Now I would just need to find someone less 'chameleoned' than myself to do it. (sara...? ;)

The other thing I was thinking about is something that i really struggle with and think a lot about. i never know whether it falls into the complaining category or not, and so i very often don't say anything about it. I have a strong dislike for my current job. yes, the one that just cut me down to 20 hours a week and expect all the same work. Anyways, this one made me think of my not-really-that-bad-even-though-work-sucks situation:
"The world of efficiency and anonymity dehumanizes us. We see people as machines, as tractors, or as issues to protest. We live in an age when machines act like people, and people act like machines. But machines cannot love."

there really isn't too much different this year as compared to other years at work. but there are dollar bills floating in the air and hours are being cut like crazy. they dont care about the people who do whatever they can in order to keep some kind of a job, taking home a never-increasing slice of the big-time increasing profits. When they cut my hours, my manager says to me, 'you were able to do your job in less hours while you were in school, you should be able to do it now as well.' that's right, why allow people to work at just a speeding pace when we can have them work at break-neck pace? why think about the health and happiness of the workforce when there are more pennies to be gained? I have seen too many people there get fired and not told about it, waiting weeks at times for another schedule that will never come. how is that responsible? how does that help the company? that person? their family? society in general? all for another penny. yes, these are the same people that i weekly have to decide who gets a shift to pay for the electric bill. they will find out soon enough on their own, won't they? the lucky ones that do get told, and are let go for a specific reason are not told why, typically. Yep, why try and fulfill our duty to help them become a better person and employee? after all, it may take 5 more minutes. 1 more penny.

if you can't tell i am deeply cynical about them right now. I just hope that there are still companies out there that actually care about the people and not just the pennies. I hope it isn't, as they say at work, 'all about the bottom line.' (sure isn't my bottom line it is all about) ok - i will stop now....