So much to say

Often when I go longest between posts it is because I have written dozens.. that need work. This one is off the cuff so give me some grace.

I have joined the many people who gratefully still have a job... but will have a reduction of hours and the accompanying reduction in pay. I actually thought it was a great idea when it was just an obscure solution. We were just kicking around potential solutions when the problems had not been completely identified. It just seemed that it would be better for all of us to take a cut than to cut a person. I still believe that.

However, when it was really presented as "THE PLAN", I did not like it so much. I think that it was because of the reduction in pay. No one wants their pay reduced. After all, I work many hours over and in fact.. I have not experienced a lack of work since the beginning of the year. IT seemed ludicrous to have me work less which makes me bill less which brings less cash to the company. And all those hours I worked more... I did not get more money. But now that I am going to work less... it goes with less money.

So you can see that it was a bit of a struggle. I wanted to yell "foul". But then you start recognizing all those that are out of work. And the many more friends, neighbors, family who are also working reduced hours. The more I thought about the reduction in hours, I began to warm up to the idea. In fact, I can live on less. There will be adjustments. Many adjustments. But I can do it.

What I can really do is warm up to the idea of having one day out of 10 to call my own. A bonus day. A day to get stuff done. A day to make things happen. A day to start new projects. A day to finish old stuff. A day no one expects me to be anything or anywhere or even anyone special. The more I thought about that day the more I liked the idea of the cut in pay and the day to myself.

I have often thought about asking for what I was just given. How is that? SO... now it is here. I hope that the entire workforce begins to recognize that long work weeks reduce the need for more workers. We take jobs away from others by being so completely sufficient. Companies have gotten by with fewer employees (fewer benefits to pay out) and greater profits because we have been willing to work long long hours at the sacrifice of our families.

So--- I am not complaining. I am eager for more time off even if I lose some pay along the way. It connects me with the vast majority of us that have been badly affected by this economic downturn. God is still faithful and He just might have important stuff for us to do with some free time!