yoyoyoyoyo

my blog has moved to www.seedsofwinter.blogspot.com

This used to be just for poetry, but i don't write enought to maintain both. I will be writing more. But that is all for now.

The Gate/It is well with my soul

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them."

Jesus goes on to explain that He is the gate and this passage is about salvation. But when I read this I was struck with a different kind of analogy – Going through the gate is doing things the right way. My natural inclination whenever things get tough is to jump the fence. I don’t want to go through the gate. Going through the gate for me has become an analogy for doing things the right way. No shorts cuts, no easy ways out. Going through the gate is harder, narrower, but right. I’m not jumping the fence anymore in my life.

This morning someone came to my desk with the “All is well with my soul” hymn and they said it reminded them of me. I don’t know about all that, but I read the backstory of when this was written. It was written by a guy named Horatio Spafford after some seriously horrible things happened in his life. Here is what our friend wikipedia says: “This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the S.S. Ville du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sailing ship, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford's daughters died.”

After this his wife sent him a telegram and all it said was “Saved alone.” While going to meet her he literally wrote this hymn while passing over the same spot where his four daughters died.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

perspective

One of my favorite office episodes is “Branch Closing” from season three. It’s after Jim has moved to a new office and everyone finds out the Scranton branch is closing (after Michael walks out of his office and says, “Listen up, everybody. I have some news. We are screwed.” Haha). One of the interesting things that happens is that, like in real life, when shit goes down you can clearly see everyone’s true colors in the office. Now that the Scranton branch is closing, Ryan breaks up with Kelly and Michael and Dwight drive to the CFO’s house to confront him (classic). I have noticed in my short life that seeing people’s true colors always come out through adverse circumstances. Some people bail, some fall apart, some keep on trucking…etc. It may take something like that to see that you didn’t know someone as well as you thought you did. Recently I had a couple relationships show true colors and it immediately reminded me of this episode.

My favorite part of the episode is when Jim and his new boss Josh are being presented with the jobs to run the division. Now all through season three it portrays Josh (Jims new boss) as the good looking, down to earth, “got his stuff together” boss that everyone always wanted. Wikipedia describes him this way: “a colleague of Michael's and seemingly a more responsible and competent boss”. Yes I actually looked that up. Haha. As Jim and Josh are being presented with the promotions Josh reveals he used this job as leverage to get a better job at Staples. What an ass. It’s a quick scene but right after there is a clip of Jim and he says, “Say what you will about Michael Scott he would never do that.” This stuck with me. Michael Scott is a huge dork. In just about every office episode the joke is on him. But he would never do anything to knowingly injure anyone. When he found out the branch was closing he drove to the CFO’s house! It’s hilarious and misguided, but it shows his passion and love for the office. With Michael Scott he always means well, but it often comes out sideways.

I have been thinking a lot about this episode lately. It sure does put relationships into perspective. Sometimes you think you have it made with a great boss until shit goes down. It makes you realize Michael Scott may be silly, but he wouldn’t hurt a fly and he’s not as bad as you thought it was. Perspective aligned. I hope I have half the heart Michael Scott does. I may be a dork, but I’m dedicated. Sometimes my love and passion come out sideways, but I would NEVER intentionally hurt anyone. Despite how tough life can get I hope people would say about me: “Say what you will about Quinn Kelly he would NEVER do that.”