Adjusting Sails,The devil, and Peppercorns

Benjamin from Brother’s Campfire here!

It is a windy one here at Memorial Central, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

These winds have been here before and knocked over semi trailers. In fact, I think a couple have been blown over on Interstate 25, a main roadway in our beautiful state.

This may be Chinook winds, but you will have to ask KDVR Weather or a meteorologist.

If you look at the picture below, it is just like the wiki.

These winds can be stressful because I worry about safety. Outside, there are some trees and poles knocked over.

Stress is a part of life, and life can throw you contrary winds.

One of the unhealthy parts of my job as a correctional professional is the normalization of stress, or so they say.

I wouldn’t know at this point; it is normal to me, mostly.

For instance, the other day we had to remove a disruptive person from our church. He was way out of control.

Hours after, folks were still talking about it like it was a noteworthy event, and indeed it was.

During this incident, my heart rate never got above 110 beats per minute. It was 77bpm minutes afterward. ( for comparison, my resting heart rate is 66bpm, and a brisk pace with a loaded backpack is 117 bpm)

Conflict and problem solving is commonplace to me in many flavors.

Ahh, Peppercorns.
(Not a conflicting flavor but a nifty photo)

That doesn’t mean I don’t have internal anxiety about these sorts of things that aren’t displayed outwardly.

I see this with brand new events like getting FMLA paperwork filled out. I have ample sick time, but the devil is in the details.

Waiting is making me physically ill.

Hey! Get out of the details! 💥 👹

I think this is rather silly. It can be rationalized in lots of ways. I have the sick time and my boss isn’t sweating me.

A job is a job. If I lose it, I can get rehired or find another. Feeling ill is rather ridiculous, but I can’t process the way I would like.

It is all about what is important. In between my Beloved’s naps, I have wandered a bit.

I found this scratched on a bathroom wall at the hospital.

I feel so G** D*** empty”

This statement scratched in a wall was motivation to me.

I can get a house, I can get a job, I can find something to eat, and I assure you, I’ll eat a rotten otter if I leave my loved ones feeling empty on my account.

Fortunately, I serve a God that is the difference in all this!

The winds are strong today. My God is stronger.

Perhaps new normals are on the horizon. After her nap, perhaps we will find an adventure. Perhaps the adventure will find us.

Is life stressful? Yes.

Are there winds of change? Yes.

It’s not time to complain, but time to adjust the sails.

Author: Benjamin

Benjamin Thiel is a husband, father, correctional professional and author of The Ongoing Tale at Brothers Campfire.

22 thoughts on “Adjusting Sails,The devil, and Peppercorns

  1. Ryan Callahan says:

    Amen, brother. Good analogy with the wind. I remember those winds well. We heard Colorado was getting hit with that. Our house in Parker was on a hill and those winds could get bad at times. Prayers of comfort, strength, & blessings to you all.

    Reply
  2. believe4147 says:

    It’s all about our focus-the winds or the Wind-maker, and He’s the one who calms the winds.

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      Well, I know the direction I am heading in. It may be contrary. However, I know the Peace Speaker in the storm.

      Reply
  3. Cindy Georgakas says:

    hang on you don’t need any more sails that swirl you out to sea.. calm waters ahead! congrats on almost 2,000 Ben! 💖

    Reply

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