As I started trying to pen this year’s wish list, I thought of my daughter’s wish when she is frustrated with me, “I wish you just understood me!” Then I asked myself how well anyone who isn’t living the pain and frustration could understand my sentiments. Of course this wasn’t fair because without the pain and frustrations there would be no context for how much I appreciate some of the small and great things in my life. Maybe I could wish my memory and lack of focus on you so you could understand the frustration which comes from not being able to express yourself when truly frustrated, but isn’t it better at least one of us be able to express themselves?
No, I think my wish will simply be for more forbearance, more forgiveness for all which appears to make no sense. Given what Christ’s death was to mean for all, maybe I can file my wish under the “please keep the Christmas spirit year round” header.
On that note, I was asked to attend a staff meeting this week where it was noted many of the Combined Federal Campaign fundraisers happen during work hours, and as such are being at least partially funded by tax payers. It was pointed out they are great team building exercises, and they do well for morale. I do agree we may be able to come up with more moral defensible exercises, and I suggested we do one volunteering at a soup kitchen in the summer. It’s nothing like our normal white collar jobs, but in many ways I think this only makes it more valuable, not less. We should be out there seeing those whom we serve, especially if their life isn’t one to which we typically relate. The division chief liked the idea, and I will try to follow up on it. I’m curious whether I will be able to successfully push for a day of service, a day we walk in the shoes of those about whom we rarely think.
