When Life Erupts

Thursday of the Second Week of Advent

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Prophet of Isaiah 41:13-20

 I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, “Fear not, I will help you.” Fear not, O worm Jacob, O maggot Israel; I will help you, says the LORD; your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.....  

The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain,
their tongues are parched with thirst.
I, the LORD, will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.


"Dear Lord, please help me before I  lose it!  The stress related to a coworker's personality is driving me crazy. This is the worse cross I've had to bear in a long time.  I really need peace in my heart...."   I prayed these words yesterday evening after I came home from work. "What is tomorrow going to be like?  I don't think it will be too good. Please give me courage to endure whatever happens...."  One of my coworkers is difficult to work with.  The personality is strong, loud, impatient, over-sensitive and territorial.  I'm quiet and introverted.  I do my best when I work alone. When someone asks me "Do you have any work for me to do?" (when I'm not even the manager), and then gets angry when I can't provide (or monitor) such work, causes stress beyond the stress.  

I think getting along with personalities in the workplace is more of a challenge than the work itself!  It's even more difficult when you're more of a loner who prefers communication via email and not so much face-to-face.  Nothing worse than a coworker coming up to your cube constantly and even looking at your email over your shoulder....

Why did all of this coworker drama have to take place during Advent?  I really hoped for a nice and peaceful season before Christmas, but the Lord has other plans.  He is really, REALLY causing a mini volcanic eruption in my life.  My interpersonal skills are not my strongest asset, so I'm forced to evaluate what others say about me (good and really terrible) and make immediate changes.  What is it about my own personality that irritates people?  How can I approach a coworker's situation from his point of view?  Overall, how can I get along with coworkers I find annoying or don't particularly like?

When life erupts, and volcanic lava flows down the tall mountain, we expect everything in the lava's path to be destroyed.  We hope the area will get wiped out so we can rebuild and start our lives fresh.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case.  Remnants of our harsh words, bad behaviors, and judgments come back to haunt us; they linger for a very long time. 

Is your Advent challenging this year?  Keep praying and keep hope alive!  A volcano doesn't erupt all of the time.  Fortunately, when it does we have the Sacraments and the power of prayer to help protect us from getting burned to an eternal death.

Here's another original poem:

When Life Erupts - Part Deux

When life erupts

At the least expected time

Stress and tears emerge

Nothing appears sublime.

We wonder what happened

Things going so well

Life throws a curve ball

Everything goes to hell.

Our family wants to feud,

Our coworker wants to fight

Our faith takes a backseat

Too upset to notice the light.

The light of Christ shines

Amidst the volcanic eruption

It resists the lava and smoke

It stops the pending destruction.

The intercession of Mary

Brings peace to the hopeless

No fear shall inflict our hearts

During life's lowness.

When life erupts,

Making things uneasy,

Turn to Jesus Christ

For spiritual remedy.

He will answer, guaranteed!

-J.