...The job of an internship with the International Board in a foreign county, France, is something very different from what most people think of as a "real job." I have come here with ideas of what a "real job" is...influenced by the Terry College of Business, my family, our American culture in general. It's a 9-5 job...that really requires more time than that...where you recieve a "salary" that seems to tell you that you have "done your job" adequately and bonuses that give you an extra pat on the back and scream SUCCESS!!! Wow...does that really define success and significance in the workplace????
My view has definitely changed.
It's time for me (and others as well) to look at success and significance with eyes looking beyond the short-term. My marketing classes in college always emphasized the importance of looking at customers with a long-term relationship in mind. This was one area of marketing I completely agree with. But are we looking at our "jobs" the same way? What impact am I having in the long-term category? I begin by looking at the relationships I am developing with co-workers...am I in it for the long haul? This is where the significance and success begin...but it goes beyond this.
I want eternal eyes...eternal vision. This sounds kind of weird, so I'll explain a little further. I want to look beyond this world and see what will be when I'm gone from this world. It will be what's eternal that matters. So...its not even just the relationships that I want to be long-term...I want the effects to be long-term. The effects of what I'm doing in my "real job." I want to take advantage of every opportunity to have a truly long-term impact...one that goes beyond our time right now. I want a true light...an eternal love...to shine and flow from me. One that comes from the eternal spirit in me...one that is from God. And I want this action to have lasting effects.
So...forget salaries, bonuses, clocking in and out...that's not a "real job" with significance and success. A "real job" with significance and success can only be defined as that after we see its long-term, eternal impacts and effects. It could take months, years, decades...who knows how long. So...I'll trust that God will look at my job and decide whether its "real" and truly having an impact for the better in this world. I'll trust that He will keep me in line and in check and give me His "bonuses" when I am "successful." In the mean time...I will try to see with eternal eyes all of the opportunities that lye before me...whether they are as an intern in Paris, a businesswoman in Georgia, or wherever else the Lord may want me to go.
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Friday, November 12, 2004
The Gift of Family and Friends...
...The longer I am over here in Paris, the more I realize the importance of support and love from family and friends back home. Leaving everything behind and moving to a foreign country is a huge change...you are stripped of all of your "norms", "comforts", etc. All of my constants were gone...all except God. God has been my ultimate family and friend while I've been in Paris and I thank Him continually for that. Even beyond that...He has blessed me. He has given me an amazing family and friend network at home (as well as here). The biggest gift that I have felt recently has been all of you at home. I have felt your love, prayers, and support. I have thoroughly enjoyed the emails you have sent me. I savour the phone conversations that I am so lucky to have...its so great that its not expensive. Each letter in the mail brings a great deal of excitement and I can't describe what its like to receive a package!! Its a speechless moment...there's just something about it. Its all of these things put together that are one of the greatest gifts a girl in Paris, away from home, can receive. You all are my connection to home and I love each of you very much. Keep up the good work! God has given me you all to keep me on (somewhat) soild ground.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
The Whole Gang
This is the whole gang that came to the Halloween Party. Most of them experienced this holiday for the first time. We had a big bag of costumes for everyone to choose from and everybody seemed to really get into it. The apartment was a mess by the end of the night...so I guess the party was a success=)
Interesting...
This is Heidi with some friends...Jean, Susan, Seven (the one with the mask), and Nico.
3 Different Nations
Here I am with Almina (from Bosnia) and Troy (from China). They are some of my new friends and are tons of fun to hang out with.
The Rommates
This is me and the roommates at our Halloween Party. We had such a great time hosting it in our apartment. From the left its, Heidi, Me, Ali, and Ashley.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Jack-O-Laterns
These are the beautifully carved pumpkins that our friends carved at our Halloween Party. It was their first time!! Pretty good huh? The left one won the prize for "most creative" and the right one won the prize for "traditional and clean cut". They are beautiful pumpkins that I found all by myself at the market...it was an adventure.
Classical Concert
This was a classical concert at a small cathedral in town. It was a clarinet, cello, violin, and piano. It was a relaxing way to end my day of fun with Lydia.
PUSH
This is a French Christian band that we go to see in concert. They were so great that I bought their cd on the spot. Its so great that good bands like this exist here. It was a really cool concert and pretty high-tech.
Lydia
This is Lydia. Lydia is a Christian from Germany. We love going to fun things on the weekends. This is a picture from the Chocolate Expo...we had bananas covered with melted chocolate. Mmm.
English Club Sign-Ups
We had a table at a local university campus, Censier, for English Club sign-ups. We had a great response...my Monday class has about 10 people and my Thursday has about 5 people. Yea!! This is a great free service to students and a great way to meet people.
Girls' Night
Party at Mentanna's!! Even Gidget had a good time. We ate pizza and brownies, painted nails, and talked...what a great night.
Fun Socks
Can you guess whose feet are whose? (Nichole, Mentanna, Anna, and Pam)Thanks to Anna and Mentanna for the fun socks on our girls night. It was so much fun hanging out with the girls from my team. But the question remains...do the stars go on top or bottom?
The Eiffel Tower with a twist
This Eiffel Tower is about twice as tall as me...and made of chocolate. There were a few at the Chocolate Expo, but this one was the most impressive.
Elephant
This elephant is made completely out of chocolate. It's truly a masterpiece...a work of art. The detailing is incredible. (at the Chocolate Expo)
My Favorite Dress
Talk about a dream dress! This was my favorite dress at the Chocolate Expo...there were quite a few! It's so beautiful and even comes with a lamp-shade umbrella! That's a fasion statement.
A Chocolate Guitar
This full size guitar may not be playable...but it sure is edible!! This one was for you boys, Rob and Hudson! (at the Chocolate Expo)
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
A fruit harvest...
...I am reading this book called Finding Common Ground by Tim Downs and I have come to a very interesting point. When we think about reaping a harvest, what kind of harvest are we thinking of? A wheat harvest or a fruit harvest. The reason it is essential to determine which one we find our selves amidst is that we must reap in different ways...the methods are quite different.
"In a wheat harvest, the grain is harvested in a short period of time. There is a small window of opportunity before weather or blight destroys the crop where it stands...the reaper passes through the fields, the sheaves are bundled, the fields are cleared. A wheat harvest is a thorough, final, consummate event.
But Jesus also spoke of people as though they were a harvest of fruit. A fruit harvest is a very different kind of harvest--a patient, gradual, ongoing process. Though there is a harvest season, th fruit harvest takes place over a much longer period of time. It's no accident that a fruit grower is sometimes known as a "vinedresser." He can't simply walk out into the vineyard with his sickle and mow everything down. The vinedresser always enters the vineyard prepared to do a variety of jobs. He looks first for ripe fruit; where he finds none, he "dresses" the vine. He pulls a weed, fertilizes, cultivates, ties up a sagging branch. Later, a different worker may come behind him. She may find a thick, hardy vine where he tied up a feeble twig. She may find ripe fruit where he found none. No matter. At the harvest celebration, the vinedresser and the reaper will be glad together."
In this book, he is describing America as a Postmodern society. Although he is speaking of America here, he is also speaking of France, as I would classify them as Postmodern as well. So, I believe Paris is a fruit harvest and I am just one vinedresser walking through the vineyard. I need to be prepared to do a variety of jobs, depending on the plant/fruit. And I will be relying on the Spirit to show me what needs to be done.
"...we should enter the vineyard looking for--anticipating--ripe fruit to pick. That, after all, is the final goal. But we'll be careful not to bruise the fruit that's unready to pick. We'll remember that fruit harvesting is a gentle, gradual, ongoing process that requires patience and faith."
"In a wheat harvest, the grain is harvested in a short period of time. There is a small window of opportunity before weather or blight destroys the crop where it stands...the reaper passes through the fields, the sheaves are bundled, the fields are cleared. A wheat harvest is a thorough, final, consummate event.
But Jesus also spoke of people as though they were a harvest of fruit. A fruit harvest is a very different kind of harvest--a patient, gradual, ongoing process. Though there is a harvest season, th fruit harvest takes place over a much longer period of time. It's no accident that a fruit grower is sometimes known as a "vinedresser." He can't simply walk out into the vineyard with his sickle and mow everything down. The vinedresser always enters the vineyard prepared to do a variety of jobs. He looks first for ripe fruit; where he finds none, he "dresses" the vine. He pulls a weed, fertilizes, cultivates, ties up a sagging branch. Later, a different worker may come behind him. She may find a thick, hardy vine where he tied up a feeble twig. She may find ripe fruit where he found none. No matter. At the harvest celebration, the vinedresser and the reaper will be glad together."
In this book, he is describing America as a Postmodern society. Although he is speaking of America here, he is also speaking of France, as I would classify them as Postmodern as well. So, I believe Paris is a fruit harvest and I am just one vinedresser walking through the vineyard. I need to be prepared to do a variety of jobs, depending on the plant/fruit. And I will be relying on the Spirit to show me what needs to be done.
"...we should enter the vineyard looking for--anticipating--ripe fruit to pick. That, after all, is the final goal. But we'll be careful not to bruise the fruit that's unready to pick. We'll remember that fruit harvesting is a gentle, gradual, ongoing process that requires patience and faith."
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