Life lessons from a garden centre.

So, for the past three months, I've been working in this nursery just out of Palmerston. Even though it's technically a nursery, I prefer to call it a "garden centre" because there's actually not that many trees to work with, it's more plants which you would see in a garden. It was just a bit of a temporary job so I could save for uni, but it was my first full time job I'd ever got, so it was great to have it!

Anyway, I had my last day there yesterday, and as I was trimming the branches off these trees, I had a bit of an epiphany. I seem to get those a lot at work. I think it's because it can be quite a solitary place out there sometimes. Up working in the more remote parts of the nursery, I've had full days where I actually don't see a single person for hours. And all that time alone gives you time to think.

And I think a lot.

So my epiphany was actually this. That after the three months, I found that a part of me was actually a little bit sad I was leaving. Even though it was quite a repetitive job at times (once I was weeding plants for three days in a row!), even though it took me ages to meet everyone properly, even though most days I couldn't wait to get home, I realized that overall I'd really enjoyed my time there. And despite what I first believed, I actually learnt quite a lot from working there. And not just how to tell what "hydrangeas" are, or how`to drive tractors either. Here's just a few of the things I learnt...

1# Good things take time.

This is a fairly standard proverb I guess, but one I could see in terms of plants real easily. One of my jobs in December was lifting up plants from a sandbed. Most of them were just tiny sticks with a few green buds sprouting out here and there, and if you were lucky had a couple of roots. I remember thinking "How will they even survive?" Yet with the variety of my job, I got to see a lot of the stages of plant production, and about a week ago, some of the plants I'd pulled from the sandbed were big enough to fit in bags. I guess seeing that really drove home this point for me. Like plants, everything we do, and even everything we are, if it's a culmination of a lot of time and effort, it's going to be good. Sometimes it's easy to get discouraged when something isn't working out, or things are taking to long. Working in the nursery and seeing stuff like this just helped me to appreciate that some things are worth the wait.

2# Appreciate the little things in life

(to copy the quote from Zombieland...)

I can't remember exactly what I was doing, but there was one time when I just saw something on a plant or how it grew, and I just thought: "Wow, that is incredible!" Seriously, sometimes we forget that the world around us is such an incredible miracle! So many times working in the garden centre my eyes were opened to how glorious creation is, and how blessed we are to live in it.

3# Hard work will get you far.

This kind of ties in with number one, but it's one thing I noticed working there. Good, decent hard work is what gets you results. Talent can only last so long. I was inspired by all the other workers on this. They worked hard, and we got stuff done. Honestly though, with the amount of different jobs there is these days, some people might have lost touch with the idea of doing hard labour in intense conditions (rain, wind, heat) after just sitting behind a desk all day. But I'd say the former is definitely more rewarding. Man I'm starting to sound like a philosopher or something.... but it's true! Work hard and you get results.

4# A little kindness goes a long way

One of the reasons I liked working so much was my bosses were awesome! Sometimes it was food in the staffroom, other times it was just having a conversation to you about your life, but they always seemed to go out of their way to make the workplace better. Just those small acts of kindness made working their way more enjoyable and also made you respect them more. Definitely something to remember, not only for work situations but life in general.

It's amazing what you can take from stuff if you keep your eyes open, and your head in the right direction. I feel I was really blessed in having this job for the time I had, and while it's not something I would want to do for life, it's so good to know that I have those skills, both physical and mental, all under my belt now.

And now, it's time for the next challenge!

Jordan

Changes!

I've made a couple, look around and tell me what you think!

Besides posts, what else do you want to see more of?

Or less of?

Leave a comment if you have one....

Boring...

10.47 with nothing to do, and just one week till my course starts.

I cannot wait for it, yet at the same time, the week could be a little bit longer and I wouldn't mind. My situation is comfortable, requires little effort, and I'm earning money. Who says it has to interesting? That just translates to "hard work".

My, sometimes how we revel in boredom.

Jordan

More than a week in...

...so I decided to do a blog post to celebrate!
[cue fireworks, drumrolls, confetti, comments, etc...]

Loving Palmerston so far! The hostel is sweet! And not having to drive far to work is a bonus!
Here's what I've been up to so far:

- Meeting tons of new awesome people :)

- Getting wasted at pool by Chris

- Had one of the best deep and meaningful's EVER with a friend.

- Ate cupcakes. They were incredibly tasty!

- Avoided being hooked up with anyone by Marilyn, who's a bit of a wannabe matchmaker. Wannabe because she's not very good at it. :D

- Met lots of people who don't actually live in the hostel.

- Been mobbed by people wanting me to go to this person's house for lunch

- Actually going, and then going back the next week cause it was so cool!

- Started working earlier.

- Only gone back to my hometown once!

- Watched far too much pointless tv.

- Played guitar more than I ever have before in my life. Even more than the time I was loner-ed looking after Rachel's house!

- Watched some Morris dancing

- Talked about guitars

- Got told by UCOL I graduated before my course even started.

- Learnt a little bit more of "Always with me, Always with you" on guitar, something I'm STOKED about!

- Watched the Wellington Phoniex lose.

- Almost been knocked out by flying pool balls

- Been locked out of my room by someone else

- Got very wet

And pretty much had a whole heap of fun! If I was to list it all, I would be here all night probably. :D

Peace out,

Jordan

Ps What's the most exiting thing(s) which happened to you this week? You should totally leave a comment!

For all those who say you can't...

First of all, I have to say it's hard to follow a blog like my previous one.
Not that my feelings run any less deep on this, it's just that today I will not be writing about a meaningful issue. No, I'm just going back to talking about myself again....

It's only a week and a bit until my course begins! Already I'm immensely looking forward to starting and seeing what it's actually like. Too many people seem to think that I'm just being a slacker taking a one year course in a subject in something as "pointless" as music. But it doesn't bother me really. This is what I've always dreamed of, and to me it's always going to be infinitely better than being stuck in a course you don't really enjoy just so you can get a qualification, or a job, or whatever. As for being a "slacker" I'm pretty sure I can actually work at least as hard, if not harder, than them. So what if it's not in a lab?

You can never make a dreamer stop dreaming. 'Nuff said.

Jordan

What about all the times we don't give?

The other day I was at this concert at the Square. I'd just been to the Rockshop and had a great talk to a guy about guitars, and got to play on one of my favourite guitars ever. But that's not the story I'm telling today.

Some random reggae band was playing, and they weren't particularly good either. I was just walking around the edges of the crowd near the stalls, wondering if I should stay or go, when I nearly tripped over something lying on the ground. At first I thought it was a bundle of rags. Then with my next glance I thought maybe it was a dummy. Finally I made out just what, or rather who this was. It was a homeless man sitting on the ground with a blanket over his head, perfectly still, despite the noise around him. Propped up near his feet there was a cardboard sign which simply said "$ for food".

Yet the saddest thing in this short episode of my life, maybe two minutes at the most, was not this man's fault. While it is horrible that he's out there living on the streets and has no place to call home, and I'm not in any way trying to downplay that factor, what was even worse was my response to this pitiful sight.

I had money in my pocket and I kept on walking.

In my side pocket, there was at least three dollars in coins which I had left over from Parachute. I was aware of this immensely as I walked away. Yet I kept walking.

Two days later, I'm still not sure what my reasons for this were. Maybe I was to scared to bend down and hand this stranger a coin? Maybe I was to busy to see that this man needed my help and I could easily give it to him? Maybe I just wanted to get back to my little comfort zone with friends? Maybe I had no reason at all. It could be easy to justify this and say "I already give to World Vision, Tear Fund, and my church. It's not like I'm not trying to help out. It's not like I'm a selfish person who never gives away his money." But there is no need to make any sort of empty gestures. The facts are very clear.

I had money in my pocket and I kept on walking.

This man had practically nothing. I will probably always have money. Yeah I'm not rich, but I'll probably never know the kind of poverty he has to deal with every day.

And it's not just about the money. This man had no home. No one to talk to. I can't even imagine that. And yet, in a crowd, people just passed him by. People like me. People including me.

I don't know why, maybe it's guilt, or maybe it's just my conscience, but his image has been burned in my skull. That night, despite all the intense conversations I had over facebook with friends, despite all the pool I'd played, or tv I'd just watched, all I could think of was this homeless man.

I thought to myself that at so many Christian events, churches, and Parachutes, we always hear incredible sermons about how people go into an area of poverty and change things. How people give and give and make a difference. And the bucket comes round and we shove something in. And then we forget about it. But what we never hear is all the times we don't give?

All the times while we have things in our hand. We have time, we have energy, resources. Heck, sometimes it's as simple as a dollar in your pocket. Or a minute from your day. And yet, we choose not to give!

Nobody talks about those times. It's cos we're ashamed to admit it. I found writing this blog super hard. Cause what I did, or rather what I didn't do, it's not something I'm proud of. It's not easy to admit that you aren't a super-Christian, one who does everything right.

If you ever had any of these illusions of me, I hope by now they're shattered.

I think the thing with talking about all the times we don't give, is we can't ask others to do anything. It is way easier to expect others to do things than to actually go out there and do them yourselves. And this is the last thing from a condemnation. If anything, I am convicting myself, pointing the finger at myself. I am not a super-Christian. I call myself a follower of Jesus, yet when I saw "one of the least of those" I walked right on by. There was so many ways I could have shown Christ's love to this man, and yet I chose to ignore all of them. Days later, I still feel like an empty hypocrite. No excuses can hold water, the Bible is very clear about this.

"Then the righteous shall answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and fed you? Or thirsty, and gave you water? When did we see you as a stranger, and took you in? Or naked and gave you clothes? Or when did we see you sick or imprisoned and come and visit you?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Truly I say unto you, as much as you have done it to the least of these my brothers, you have done it unto me." [Matthew 25:37-40]

I knew all this. I have the verses memorized. I have the songs down pat. I know all the right prayers, all the right bands. And yet, I did not show love, or compassion, to a man who needed it. For all I know, it could have been Jesus' face behind that blanket, waiting for me to follow him. And I walked the other way.

I could have taken a few minutes out of my day, and given him something. The money in my pocket. A snippet of conversation. Something. Anything. And then I could have walked away, and maybe we'd have both been the richer. Him by a few dollars, and me by the knowledge that I had just been a part of grace and mercy in action.

And I'd like to think that all this, this time that I did not give, will change me and make me see more. To open my eyes and my hand a little wider. To really be passionate about making a change. Not to make up for what I didn't do, but because it is the right thing.

I'd like to think that if I ever saw this man again, I would not just pass him by.

But when it comes to it, who knows what I will do? Will it be to uncomfortable to give? To secret? To shameful? To hard? To much out of my way? To far from my comfort zone?
Or will I be able to follow my Lord, and give?
The fact will still remain.

I had money in my pocket and I kept on walking.

And I know I have been forgiven. God's grace can, and will cover all. But it's not just like lying or cheating or feeling angry. It's something that I had the power, and the means to change. Something that wasn't an inbuilt part of me.

And I kept on walking.
This is not a call for you to do anything. It is just an honest look at myself. And about what happens all the times we do not give.

Jordan

Smile

Cupcakes and good friends make me smile. :)

STUFF!

Man I haven't updated this blog for ages! While I'm kinda sorry about this (especially with my resolution of blogging more), I have to say I've been so busy it's been hard to even think, let alone blog!

So I type this sitting in my hostel room, listening to U2 and writing on the laptop that my mum kindly gave me. Yes, I have finally moved!!! Pretty big thing, but I'm loving it over here and I've only been here like 2 and a half days!

Oh and in other exciting news I heard the other day that I got accepted into my course! I was so nervously awaiting this piece of information that it was great to have confirmation at last!!!! I'm really looking forward till the starting date, which is in a couple of weeks time. Till then I'll just be working, but at least this means I don't have to drive so far to work. So it's an ideal situation at the moment!

Loving 2012! If you're reading this, drop a line and tell me how your years going!

Jordan