Arrowhead Springs, 1970 (3)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/caryanddarla/9209866179/

It was, as someone described it, like walking into a wall of Love. And just like that, Life changed for me.

This kindly/positive/hopeful approach was on display in the dining room, during Bible instruction, and reached even to our job training. This was a good thing because I felt really sorry for the lady who was tasked with the training of me. It was excruciating for both of us.

"Here we are, your first stack of invoices," she said encouragingly. "All you have to do is make a note of what the customer is ordering, communicate it to our packaging department, and collect and report the money. It's that simple!"


The SconeLady quails at each fresh stack of INVOICES.

But I did not think it was 'that simple'. There were so many confusingly tiny figures listed, with tax! postage and handling! and other little details that added up to trouble. This was revealed on Day Two.

"Oh - my dear, here are the invoices from yesterday..er, the figures didn't quite add up. You see, this figure needs to be deducted because the customer got a discount..."

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No one had said anything to me about a DISCOUNT! How was I supposed to know? 

"And, there appears to be no notation of the cost of shipping and handling on this other one. That box was left blank.." Her smile stayed there, but with an added crack of strain filtering in. 

Those bits of paper were becoming my nightmare.

But there was more to life than invoices! Gradually, the Message of Campus Crusade was getting through to us. "Come Help Change the World!" it said. We were catching on. My only confusion was in equating those hideous invoices with helping to 'Change the World'. Invoices were so - humdrum. Meaningless. Relentless!!

Oh, dear, I thought while sitting at my work desk, gazing at the newest stack. I wanted to help change the world, I really did. But surely there was some better way.  Wasn't there, God? Maybe somewhere up front? 

Someone said something about humility. 

'Ridiculous!' I scoffed. What could HUMILITY possibly have to do with anything?

(Sound familiar?)

See you along the Way!
the SconeLady

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photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/caryanddarla/9209866179/">Cary Rodriguez</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>

photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kozumel/2228603119/">kozumel</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">cc</a>