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It is hard being on the road over 200 nights a year...away from your family, isolated in many ways. It definitely isn't for everyone. This blogs represents the thoughts of just one such person. Read along and find out if the road is for you.
This is my new blogchalk:
United States, Georgia, Gainesville, Unity of Gainesville, English, John, Male, reading, RE Investing. :)
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Tuesday, October 15, 2002
Holding the high watch
In keeping with yesterday’s thought of “Why am I here and what purpose do I serve?”, I reflect back to another blog I read regularly.
Atlanta Steve’s October 8 entry discusses how someone, somewhere probably is looking out for us. How that “higher power” really knows what is best for us. Sometimes, we think that what occurs in our life is either a disaster or a coincidence, but I truly believe that there is a plan going on.
Lately, I think I have been manifesting my higher power. I think about someone, they call me. And the more I believe, the more power my manifestation powers seem to be. You could probably explain away these type of occurrences, but when they happen with regularity, how can you not accept anything but a higher power working.
I know. Examples. I have a few that have happened recently. I got a client to donate their old computers to my church. That may not have been such a big deal. Except when Cheryl told me they were upgrading their computers, something made me ask her, “What are you going to do with the old ones?” She replied, “You know, we usually have a problem getting rid of them, although they are still good and we run autocad on them” 20 computers were mine to give to the church.
The minister thought I was a computer wizard (little does she know) and wanted me to set up 8 of the computers in a network. Not hard, except for a couple of issues. The church has no budget to get this done.
Cheryl comes back to me and says that we can also have her old server and by the way, “could you use the old hub too?”
Did I mention that the computers didn’t come with monitors? Well, it just so happened that folks had some extra ones and we didn’t have to buy any. Coincidence? Maybe.
Although I don’t know anything per se about networks, I do know what we need. Category 5 cable, punch out board, jacks, etc. I tell the minister that for the runs of cable she has in mind, it will cost $200 -$400. No budget. But then I get a call from a guy names George from another church. They have all the cable and accessories I want. They are putting together computers with bubble gum and bailing wire. I give them 4 computers. Now 2 people have their needs met and we didn’t even know each other before we actually come face to face. Coincidence? Could be.
I had planned last Saturday to pick up the stuff in my mind. Since I don’t have a truck, I knew my friend Jim from Florida was coming up to the area and would love to help me. But although I had this plan in my “alleged” mind, I had not verbalized it with anyone. I only knew that I wanted to get this thing off of my plate. But my schedule is so busy, that I don’t have time to call Jim to make sure he is available to do this task. Jim calls me on Friday and asks when are we going to pick up the stuff. I said I haven’t talked with George who is providing us with the cable and stuff. I will call him I say. I literally get off of the phone with Jim and George calls me and is coming up within 10 miles of my house. “Can I drop off the materials with you on Saturday?” he asks.
I have never set up a network. To some of you, that could be a walk in the park. But with my schedule, I don’t have time to learn. Inwardly, I have been nervous about this moment in time. Everyone is looking to me. Not just to get this job done, but several folks have indicated that they want to “learn” networking from me. And that would be a very short lesson. Nevertheless, I schedule the big day for the last Saturday of this month. I announce it at church with some apprehension. While I am confident of getting the wiring run, jacks installed and computers placed. I still know nothing about setting up the network. As I am working on the minister’s computer after church, a person who had never been to our church before introduces himself to me. Brian tells me that he, his wife and daughter have recently moved here and this is going to be their new home church. He says he doesn’t want to step on my toes, but networking is what he does for a living and could he help?
With all of the above happening, you can’t tell me there isn’t a higher power working on this project and in my life. This is just one example.
The really funny thing is the more I acknowledge it (the power) being there, the greater the rate of manifestation occurs.
So, to borrow a few lines from Atlanta Steve’s entry:
It just CAN'T be coincidence. It can't. That is too much for me to buy. The thing about this is, it has happened to me, time and again. There are so many times when I think "OH man these are huge coincidences, how can they be anything but." The funny thing is sometimes those coincidences don't pan out the way I expect. But they always make sense in the end.
And whatever that thing is that's in control? It's done me right. I'm at a good place in my life.
Does all of the above make me any closer to MY purpose? Not really. I just feel a little better that I am sure I do have a purpose and that there is a plan for me. I don't know what it is or when it will come, but just knowing makes me feel better.
posted by John Panico at 8:00 AM
Monday, October 14, 2002
Is there a purpose to this? 1 Ago
Georgia’s own Jimmy Carter winning the Nobel Peach Prize and yesterday’s Monday Mission has made me ponder; “What is our purpose here on earth?” I have wrestled with that question a lot over the last few years.
I do believe that we were put on this earth for some purpose. Some, like Carter’s purpose seem clear cut. Myself, I haven’t been able to define my purpose. Although, in some way, I do believe I was put here to help, but where and how?”
Other than some travel issues lately, I really enjoy what I do for Da Company. But is helping people be more efficient in their use of our product or helping them run their business more efficiently a life purpose? I think not.
So, what can I do to leave the earth a better place when I leave? I really believe in a higher power and that higher power residing in all of us. But at this point in time, I have been here for quite a few years.
Saturday’s birthday celebration had me reflecting (something I do a lot of in the Fall) on where I am and where I expected to be in life at this time. I usually do this type of thinking at MY birthday, not someone else’s. My 30th birthday was my personal worst. And maybe the celebration of someone having a milestone birthday has made me think more about my life.
That usually will result in some sort of call to action. I have some ideas that I can meditate on.
posted by John Panico at 10:14 PM
Just to let you know, I do have my Monday Mission up and will be posting the rest later. But if you want to learn about someone, Monday Mission's are a great place to start. I will post today's blog later.
posted by John Panico at 8:07 AM
Hectic Times! No 1 Ago as I don’t have any idea I was doing 1 year ago today. Sorry J
Talk about the swings of fate. These last few days have really brought that to my life. I took off Friday because I wasn’t feeling good. Not good enough anyhow to see the client from hell. I have never liked these folks, and as such will use the sickness as a reason not to see them. That is not like me, but that is how much I dislike this client.
I was actually a little worried about Lynette. I had sent a plant to her work congratulating her on the new position. But I hadn’t heard anything from her. Not even a thank you email. That really isn’t like her. We have had our moments, but it would be out of her character for her not to at least acknowledge the thought. So, not knowing what was going on, I was concerned.
I even began to call her, but thought that it might seem like I was fishing for complements and I really wasn’t. So I hung up after a couple of rings. My senses were right on unfortunately. She called as I was getting a haircut telling me she had made a mistake and wanted to come back to Da Company.
I really want to support Lynette in any way I can, but her actions directly reminded me of how we parted company and I found myself giving her some tough love. And yes, it wasn’t spite, but something that I think she really needed.
Didn’t get through though. After some conversing and some emails, she has decided she wants to come back. I think it is a mistake, but I will do whatever I can to be there while she goes through a rather rough transition.
But this experience with Lynette has told me that God is really looking out for me. I didn’t think that a few months back. In fact, there was a time I was a little bitter about it if the truth be told. But I can see that there was a higher power looking out for my long term well being. Thanks!
That was the darker side of the weekend.
And after the dark comes the light!
Friday night, I took Julie out for dinner for her birthday, because Saturday night would be her party and Sunday night would find me in Birmingham. And I invited Jere’ as well as a thank you gift for her helping out in coordinating the party.
Saturday and Sunday, the mood was much more festive. Julie was celebrating her birthday weekend and a very close friend (who is almost like a mother to me) Jere’ (pronounced Je- ray) and I had a gala party planned for Saturday evening. I did decorating in the morning, fixed Jere’s computer, took a nap and then we headed to the birthday party.
And I have to say, the party was a resounding success. We had about 30-35 folks there. Some I hadn’t seen in quite a while. The party ran on into the night and not just a good time, but a great time was had by all. Thanks Jere’ !
I got to bed about 2 and got up at 7 which is sleeping in for me. Since Sunday is actually Julie’s birthday, I wrapped her presents from Artemus, and the new cat Snowball along with my offering.
After church, there was a group of 18 of us that went to lunch. It was both fun and crazy. There is a couple at church that has been having a rough time financially. When I asked if they were coming to lunch, they said yes, but that they would be having “a coke”. I remembered when I had experienced financial difficulties and how someone out of the blue took me out for a birthday lunch. I was so broke and so thankful.
At that point in time, I not only felt sorry for myself, but didn’t really see the future changing. But I was thankful that someone saw some good in me. And I was appreciative that they would help me feel special on my birthday. That was the beginning of a major turnaround for me in all areas of my life.
So I told them that I would be buying them anything they wanted as my guests at lunch. I really don’t think I was doing it for them as much as I was doing it for myself. Taking Jere’ out to dinner that cost over $100 and these folks to lunch made me feel incredibly blessed. Don’t get me wrong, they were very appreciative and really enjoyed the food. But I got more out of the transaction than they did. They got a meal. I got some redemption. And mine tasted better.
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