I had a conversation this week and I’m going to share it with you. Yes, I asked for permission first. It went something like this:
Jake, I won’t be able to hang out on Saturday. Some stuff came up. We’ll just say it’s going to be a long weekend.
I’m sorry. Do you need help with anything at all?
No, we just had something fall apart at work and now I get to go in and try to fix it. I hate that place.
That sucks, are you looking for something different?
No.
Why not?
I don’t know. Not sure I could find anything I’d like that can pay me as much.
Do you have to make as much money? Or is the suffering worth it?
I can’t afford to make less. If anything, I need to make more. I have a lot of bills right now. I owe on my car, two credit cards and my school loans, that’s not counting rent, gas, food…
Oh. Are you putting extra money toward any of it, to get it paid off?
Nope. Don’t have the money.
Have you thought about getting a second job?
That would suck.
It does, but you could get out of debt faster. I’m saving all sorts of money just working all the time. I make it and have no time to spend it!
Yeah, I don’t want to do that.
Hmmm. I’m going to write about this conversation, do you care?
I’m as guilty as anyone else, but why do we make ourselves stay in situations that suck? Or rather, why do we complain about things (even to ourselves) and not do anything to lessen our suffering? I understand that some situations are just difficult, but at the very least, we should pray to Jesus to make something change, right? I’m probably being excessively pragmatic and maybe even a little annoying, but wouldn’t we rather die trying to do something than live doing really not much at all?
I’ve had this conversation with myself over and over again. My job and finances situation sucks – and that’s putting it nicely. So I started my own marketing business, I’m raising missions support and I’m looking into getting another part time job. I wouldn’t necessarily like that, but I don’t make enough for anyone to live on, so I really don’t have a choice.
Sometimes, you just have to man up and do what needs to be done. Great post, Jake.
I completely understand. Of course, the subject is more complex than just “make it change” but still, we have the power to make things happen- it isn’t that difficult!
Yea, we can’t always make the circumstances change, but we do have the power to make some changes, even if it’s just our attitude to the situation.
Attitude is a big part of it. Sometimes, we can’t change something, or enough. And in answer to my own thoughts, how many people do we know that run around and constantly change everything because they’re not happy on a deeper level. There’s always an answer…
“wouldn’t we rather die trying to do something than live doing really not much at all?” AMEN! Speaking of which…I better get back to studying for the GRE 😉
Get with it!
I think people actually enjoy complaining about stuff to a certain extent. It’s easier than doing something about it. I know I’m guilty of this.
I think you’re right. Some of us are just so good at it. I have a couple of people who LOVE to complain to me and then get butt-hurt over my responses. I don’t understand it, they should know better by now. I’ll give sympathy where it’s due, but otherwise….
There are those new commercials about finance that have the tag line “feed the pig”. They try to dispel the notion that money is magic or dealing with it is complicated.
I know some people really do not have the information they need to make healthy choices. I also know the information is fairly easy to acquire.
It is always interesting when you begin to talk with people and see where they are stuck. Extras and surprises come in life. Still most of what we have is based on our actions.
Change actions change life.
We can’t continue to do the same things and expect to magically get different results. You’re entirely right! And I like your other point, we need to be well-informed humans in order to make healthy decisions.
I’m with you. Life is short. I don’t want to be one of the people who lived a life just to end up saying, “I wish I woulda’.” God’s promise of a better life is not compromising it, that’s for sure. Maybe you shoulda’ slapped him?
Slapping would have been funny. I think he wanted to hit me though. I bring that out in my friends. I’m entirely fine with this.
Two and a half years ago I decided to go back to school. It was scary, but not too bad. Then I got to the point where I needed to quit my job of six years if I was going to continue going to school full time. As a single mom that doesn’t receive child support, that was very scary. I worried and prayed and then worried more. I finally decided that I didn’t want to stay at my job and be miserable forever and always struggle to make ends meet. I left my job and a year and a half later things are still okay. It isn’t easy, but I don’t regret it. I have a year and a half to go….
Jenn, I LOVE IT. Way to step out in faith! What are you studying? And it’s so great that you realized that you need to make sacrifices in order to get something better later!
I’m studying elementary education. I want to get my master’s in library science next, but one step at a time.
Praise the Lord. I’ll be praying for you to do well. (I’m a nerd- love school!)