Chris' Christian Blog

January 7, 2020

"January 7, 2020" 

"Prompt: What is the best thing about January? Why?"

First of all I would like to say "Happy Birthday" to my grandfather Bernard J. Schrebe (January 7, 1906-June 6, 1986).

January is one of my least favorite months because it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere and I do not like winter. I don't think there is anything as ugly as a tree without leaves. On the other hand, I was manning the front desk temporarily at the office yesterday and we have a beautiful view from it. I noticed that even without leaves the trees have an intrinsic beauty. I couldn't quite figure out what was attractive about it, but nature just appeared beautiful. I couldn't help but notice it. Maybe it was because the sky was blue and the sun was shining, an unusual occurrence in January. Anyway, it was pretty.

"Prompt: From your point of view, what makes people (men, women, or both) lovable and attractive?"

I think the thing that makes people the most attractive to me is genuine love. People can tell when you really care about them, and when you are being as fake. I work at the Salvation Army Huntington Corps where I do peer support. I encounter people all the time who genuinely care for others, and I also encounter people who simply want to get the job done. Believe me, when my work becomes just a job that I need to get done I hope somebody tells me that I have lost my edge. Yes there are people who take advantage of the generosity of others, and somebody needs to sit down with them and ask them straight up "Why do you feel you need a hand out instead of a hand up?"

OIn the other hand if I ever get to the point that every client who comes into the building is viewed as a drain on society then I need an attitude adjustment (or a new line of work.) I have seen people in the helping professions who genuinely needed a new vocation. Burnout is real and some suffer from it. The love of Jesus Christ helps me want to meet people at their point of need. Genuine love is attractive and to me is the most endearing human quality!