Nuke's Blog
Periodic ramblings by an old geek…

I’ve been meaning to post the video for one of my favorite Casting Crowns songs (“American Dream”) for some time now (and blog again, for that matter ;).  I think most of us have heard our priority list should go something like God – family – work, and I suspect most of us know we don’t follow that worth a darn.  This song focuses on the last two priorities.  Please check it out, then read on.

 

 

I remember spending too much time building my castle during my first few years at my current job.  I was placed in a position where I was on travel for 2-3 weeks at a time, with 1-3 weeks back at home in between over a stretch of several months.  As hard as it was being away from family, I understood how well it was building my career. 

 

It didn’t take long, however, for me to realize none of it was worth it.  After one long stretch away, I came home and found my 2-year-old (?) son hiding behind the living room couch… as if he didn’t remember who this guy was coming in the house.  Something died inside of me that day.  My career suddenly meant nothing.  I continued travel for some time after that only to finish my obligations to other friends traveling for the same project.  They were going through the same thing, so I had to help.

 

Ever since then, I refuse to travel.  I refuse to put in a bajillion overtime hours to get projects in the black.  My family has to come first.  Every time I spend a single night working late hours, I see that little boy hiding behind my living room couch.  Never again.  Anytime I feel myself slipping, I spend another four minutes listening to this song.

 

In case it wasn’t obvious, Casting Crowns is a Christian rock group.  In case it also wasn’t obvious, the song does hit on the first priority.  Where can we find another castle in the sand?  Matthew 7:24-27.

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Perhaps we can work on priority one as well… but that’s a post for another day.

 

I see so many people stressed out at work right now, and I don’t know how to help them.  It’s hard to tell them to settle down and stop worrying, stop killing yourself, etc. without somehow joking about my “laziness.”  If any of you are out there, you’ve read my attempt at a serious discussion now.  You’ll have to wait for the jokes at work on Monday.

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