Things happened when I was away last week, on vacation with the family. Things in the office. Things which seemed not to amount to much (supposedly) to my superiors, but to the day-to-day “working” folks—in the trenches—amounts to a tremendous lot. They have no idea.

We are squeezed beyond measure, and that was before the latest restructure. Yes, the dreaded “R” word. A word that speaks volumes above and beyond the concrete actions and physical effects. A colleague and I were promoted…with apparently very little thought or planning. Things are still being worked out. Despite having worked many, many hours over the last 3+ years, I now have even more responsibilities. I didn’t think that was possible.

So, even though I feel like the guy on the left in the photo above, I find myself this morning at peace. Surprising, I know.

Photo: Kevin Law

An extremely trying week when—amidst the frustrations of not having enough time to even put through my expenses from a June UK business trip—my boss seemed to intimate that I shouldn’t be taking my planned vacation coming up. This, after seemingly encouraging me to take some time off when I first scheduled the vacation time; after all, I had not taken a vacation since October 2007. 2007!

After another working summer Friday “off” which was more frustrating than productive, ferocious thunderstorms crackled through my mind filled with dark, evil clouds and strong malicious flashes of lightning followed by even angrier thunder. And, in no small ways, I think I let all who were in contact with me that day know just how pissed-off I was.

There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 12:18

What happened, though, when I rounded out my week with the next reading in my One Year Bible reading? Proverbs 12:18. I could not have needed that reminder at a better time. Now, the hard part is, trying for the new me.

PS: I found the above photo by searching “frustrations” on Flickr. It reminds me of Eddie.