It's 8:30 in the morning. I'm sitting down at my desk, ready to start yet another worker day. For most of my co-workers and for corporate America as a whole, the catalyst of the morning, the shot that sets us all off from the starting blocks, is that bitter salve that makes the scales of sleepiness fall from our eyes: coffee. But me? Nah. The jolt that starts my morning is of a bit different breed: Word Of The Day. Yes, I'm the nerd in the office who, with eager anticipation every morning, checks her email and then strives to improve everyone else's vocabulary appreciation.
So how appropriate that I would find this word the other day:
billingsgate-Coarsely abusive, foul, or profane language.
It's only appropriate because that word largely categorizes my job. Most of our clients have not made very wise financial decisions for the majority of their lives and thus the law suit that we're handling for them might mean their next month's rent. So if things aren't settled yet or if their check isn't ready...billingsgate.
The Lord has taught me a lot the past three months that I've been here about how to respond to such situations. Option 1: rant & fume about how much better treatment I deserve or make a joke out of their lives & situation. Option 2: let my response flow from a god-centered perspective. The first thing that I have to remember is that our clients are created in the image of God. This is the basis of their inherent value, so the way I respond to them is in fact how I'm responding to God Himself. Different backgrounds, different education, different lifestyles but really what makes me any different? It's just grace that has been extended to me, apart from any merit of my own.
When the Lord causes me to be thankful for grace in my life and prayerful for God's movement in clients' lives, my responses, in both attitude and action, are much more compassionate & gentle and are much more glorifying to the Lord. It's just another way that I get to work for the glory of God here in downtown Louisville, even amidst the billingsgate.
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About Me
- Kevin and Becky
- We've been rockin' out the ex-pat life in Asia since January of 2009. This blog is my feeble attempt at cultural musings and keeping those back home up-to-date with our adventures.
3 comments:
LOVED getting to spend some time at beautiful Peek hotel. Fun fellowship and good times and good food! Oops - I forgot to give you back your other house key. Can we mail it to you? And.. thanks again. Can't wait to see you guys again soon and very soon (and married and very married).
I enjoyed this particular entry because Travis usually makes a habit of sharing HIS word of the day with Jonathan and I, and then we discuss. We've never gotten one as cool as 'billingsgate' yet, but maybe tomorrow! I hope all is well in Peekland. Give Kevin a big hug from all of us down here.
Billingsgate was and is the main wholesale food market for all of Britain in London. After WWII and extensive bomb damage, it was moved to the Docklands. Nevertheless, I'll bet the word originated there. I can imagine it was a coarse place.
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