My Life in the Basement

Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, because I’m with you; don’t be anxious, because I am your God. I keep on strengthening you; I’m truly helping you.

One of the biggest transitions to my new job is that I’m working from our home. Alone. In the basement. Just me and a big fish.

Certainly there are advantages.  If there are office politics, I’ve created them. I can throw on a t-shirt and pair of shorts and no one complains to HR about the dress code. Not much traffic and no one has flipped me off on my commute down the basement steps. It has allowed me more time to exercise and go for walks or bike rides. Saving a lot of money on not eating out for lunch.  The fish rarely drops by my office unexpectedly to visit when I’m busy.

But I do miss having people around. I spend time contacting people by phone and email. My job requires travel to interact with committees and other church staff. I am connected to local groups and I make my wife talk to me.  But it is different.

Each week it feels better. I’m trying not to be anxious because I like what I’m doing and in a world that I, for the most part, understand. I feel like connections are helping me and strengthening my ability to do my job.

So just check in every once in a while and make sure I’m not storing cans of food, that I’m taking a shower, and not incoherently mumbling to myself. If the fish answers, send help.

4 thoughts on “My Life in the Basement

  1. So Alaska currently has two students on GBHEM scholarships at UM seminaries, and I have approximately 5 others in my church either entering the candidacy process or discerning. Maybe GBHEM can send you on a trip to Alaska!

  2. The parables are among my favorite reads, Bruce… and often I save them up and open them one by one with a cup of coffee in my end so that I can spend time with a good read– like a great dessert– cherishing each one. You have a gift, sir. It is the gift of opening eyes to “more” –more Jesus, more world, more gratitude, more possibility. Keep writing! And if the fish speaks , well listen! Stranger things have happen. An ass who laughed? DB-K

Leave a Reply to Debra Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *