The Big Choice

Last Friday, I was debating whether to go to the neighboring city (just an hour away) to attend a bible study. I had no fare and I didn't want to owe anyone any money. I was pondering on it for a while when I spotted the book my bf gave me on the table. It was entitled "Grace for the moment" by Max Lucado.

I turned to the entry for June 15 and it went,"If you do not want to serve the Lord, you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve." ~ Joshua 24:15 (I realize its longer in other versions but M. Lucado just shortened it I think)*

At that moment, I immediately left my indecision (and my bed) and prepared to go to the Bible study, fare or no fare. After I changed and got out of the room, my mother asked me to buy some snacks. Her money was excess so I asked her if I could keep the change. She agreed and so I went to the Bible Study (although it turned out to be a simple fellowship with some of the ladies and ended with a prayer. We decided to have that instead because we were only few and also shared concerns and updates with each other.

I thought how Amazing God can be the moment I chose Him. He even found a way for me to where I can hear more of Him. I think of how God doesn't make us do things against our will. He gives us the freedom to make our own choices. But the biggest and most important choice would be if you follow God. Trust Him because he won't give you what you can't handle. He'll give you challenges to make you a better person.

I have a feeling that a subtle turning point has been made in my life yesterday and I am looking forward to my tomorrows.

*"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” ~ Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

Injustice in the Workplace

It's been a few months since I've started work. I like my job because it's related to the medical field, it's got a convenient time schedule for me and I found friends here that I wouldn't trade with any other. Though lately, I've noticed many things about this place that made me rethink my values and respect for the people I work for.

"Fire someone or you'll get fired"

- One of my favorite people in the company recently resigned. No, she wasn't forced to resign, NO, she was encouraged to resign. For almost 3 years, she has pleased clients, she has worked beyond her role, encouraged others not to give up even when the higher ups were breathing fire, made loyal friends and showed a love for her job that no one could compare. She showed definite professionalism and hard work, yet I do not see the company appreciating the hard work she did. In fact, the company told her she was too kind to be a leader and to show some back bone by giving out warnings and memos. When she refused, she was blamed for issues that she had no control of, for the past few months she was reprimanded for being negative and lame.

However in the past few months that I've worked with this person, what I saw was rather contrary to what they said she was. The day finally came that she said she'd resign and the company blatantly told her not to come the next day even as she said she'd serve a week to make sure the client isn't hassled.

"Raise? Expect it next pay day. (Or the next, or the next, or the...)"

- Raises scheduled 2 months back or even 3 don't come. Reasons and alibis are given from evaluations and what-not's. And yet they hire the freshie newbie for more than a couple of bucks more than the salary of the person who has worked there for a year or so. When confronted, they lashed back with a statement about being unprofessional and unethical for knowing that fact. Even as the TL's submit whatever they asked to make sure their team get what they deserve, they keep yapping about incomplete evaluations and requirements. I'm not sure who we really need to call unprofessional here.

"You are nothing but vermin or disposable goods"

- In my observation and experience, the other management (not exactly sure if I should call them higher) take their employees for granted. Demanding loyalty and utmost respect yet they themselves make us feel like disposable goods or slaves. Expecting an 11 hour task to be done in 2 hours. Blaming us for a mistake that we had no control of. How could you expect to go wrong in loading tasks that the client's manager asked to be loaded yet the client didn't want after all??? How could you react to someone who reprimands you for missing a part of a meeting because you went to the loo.

Though what I've said here is quite filtered and my feelings are debating between my financial issues and my self respect, this blog entry is very real and close to the situation we have. For now, I can only say that I will stay even for a while before I look for a job that deserves the skills, hard work and determination I can offer.