When Saturday isn't Saturday

I have been part of the unemployed for 3 months now and I no longer like the weekends. Before, they were this respite from the week. They provided rhythm to the days. They broke up the weeks into days in front of a computer and days using my hands. Or, days spent with peers and days spent with family. Now, the days lack those distinctions. One blends into the next and sure, no day is the same, but for the most part, they blend together.

I truly miss working. I miss the challenges that each day holds. I miss the opportunities to create new ideas and solutions. I miss the camaraderie with colleagues. I miss the identity. I miss the purpose that 8-5 brought.

Then, with hard work came the reward of the weekend. Our Sats. and Suns. were filled with all this goodness of parks and errands and moments that the rest of my week lacked.

This morning, despite all of this, I was smacked with this:

"God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?" God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him! That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next."— Roman’s 8:14-19 (The Message)

As much as I would like to read this as a message of hope of a great new job on the horizon, I think I would be missing the point. Rather, it puts a wonderful perspective on my present reality. Rhythm is good, yes. And desiring a new job is good, yes. But even greater still is this anticipation for what God is doing on a much larger stage. Creation is being made new. I am a son of God! That’s my identity. That is what defines me and my days.

I'm looking at it this way: I’ve just been named most-awesome designer of the year, yet all I'm concerned with is what my next project will be.

I am a child of God. Because I know this and I believe these awesome things about the Big Guy in the Sky, then my job search is brought into perspective. I can renew my hope in what God is doing. I can anticipate what’s next.

I would still like to have my weekends back, but I’m willing to wait.