#serifu

[ID: a digital drawing of the vocaloid v flower on a pink background. she is uncolored, left in white, with no shading. the lineart is done in a scratchy pen. v flower is floating diagonally, looking at the camera with a bored expression and winking. both her hands are near her face, making peace signs. she is wearing a hoodie, shorts, and sneakers. the japanese and english text, "なんだ" "かんだ" "panda" "パタパタ" "神社" "ninja" "跳んだ" "じゃん!" are scattered around her, but still readable in that order. the artist's signature, "@/jorgyjuice", is written along one of v flower's legs. /End ID]

Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)

This passage has been the most influential and comforting as I struggled to find meaning in my job in the past year and a half. 

Why am I here? What more does He want me to learn? How long will I be here?

And although those are important questions, God didn't answer any of them, except in a very broad way. 

You're here because you're alive. You learn something new every day here if you choose to learn it. You are here until you are elsewhere.

Maddening, right?

Eventually, when God spoke through Pastor Kevin's message on Ecclesiastes 5, I understood. The words rolled, one by one, off the page, off my tongue, and dropped into my heart like a key into a lock. One turn, one click, and realization dawned on me.

It did and it didn't matter where I was or what I was doing. The paradoxical nature of the interaction between my free will and God's sovereignty was no longer puzzling but reassuring.

The heart of man plans his way,

    but the Lord establishes his steps.

(Proverbs 16:9)

There is much that I cannot and will not know, but what I do know is that God has given me the gift the life, the ability to work, work itself, reward from working, and joy while working.

Serifu - Said Situation

An electro-chop to your senses. Good morning.