Work

So you may ask, what has Banks been up to as of late? I will say lately I have been forced to be very productive. Things at the office are going very well. For those of you who may not know, I work as an account manager for a global distributor of communications solutions. My job is to solicit, create, and maintain business opportunities. I started working for this particular firm four months ago. This past month has been my most successful. With the success comes sacrifice. I've been working late on many occasions and going in early. The only negative thing is that my busy work schedule is starting to cut into my time outside of the office. I value my time with my friends. I hope work doesn't continue to interfere with my time off. I don't want to get used to having to give that up.

For a while now, I have tried to work on finding time to visit my family. This past weekend I said forget it. I am going to take a day off and just go. So I did. I spent time with my twin brother and played a round of golf. It was great to have the time to chat. Friday night I went to a church service at a local Methodist church. My cousin has been so on fire as of late, and I wanted to check out this church in which he has spoke so highly. It was very powerful and I enjoyed seeing such a different way of worship. God is surely working in this church. Saturday I ended up practicing with my cousin's coed softball team. I grew up playing baseball but haven't played in almost a year. It was a lot of fun. Before I realized it I was driving back to the real world. It was great to take the break and spend it with my family.

Yesterday, I left the office and headed home. I told myself, "I am going to go to the gym." Where did this thought come from? I haven't been in months. Well, I did manage to get in a great workout. I even went tonight. I plan to work harder to be more disciplined about my physical fitness. I really want to challenge myself to get back into top notch shape. It's been some time since I was in great shape. I need to start somewhere.

St Patty's Day

Saint Patrick's Day is a day that I enjoy. I don't know why, it used to be because it was a great excuse to get drunk and do foolish things. Having an Irish heritage, I believe has something to do with it. Regardless, yesterday I went to work wearing green and even brought in some shamrock cookies. That was pretty much the extent of it.

After work I met up with a friend to chat. It was cool, because i've known this person for a long time, but realized I really don't know them. It was nice to have a chance to get to peel the onion back a little and gain an understanding. I love to see and learn how people work.

Afterwards, Paul, Brad, and myself headed over to "Bill Bateman's."
I thought that a great way to end the day would be a night out with the guys over a Guiness. While I was there I realized that my perception of the bar scene is so different now. Us guys had some fun conversations and enjoyed the element of being guys. I had them going with the attention I was putting on the female bartenders legs. I don't know why, but I love to introduce ideas and thoughts just to provoke reactions. My intentions were clean. Anyways, we didn't stay too long, but it was nice go out and hang with the boys for a night. ST Patty's Day is once a year, and every year on the 17th. I'm sure next year may be different, but I do believe it will involve sipping on a cold Guiness.

Dear Lord...TGIF :-)

Grooving

These past few days have been quite busy, but very full. I don't know if that makes much sense. But lately, I have noticed things in a different light. Have you had a song stuck in your head for days? I feel like the past few days have been like a great tune.

The past few weeks I felt myself overworked and just started to feel disconnected. I actually started to feel as though that my passion was leaking out of me. I felt like I had crack in my side. This started to hinder my motivation with things I wanted to do, or was asked to do.

Well, about a week ago I have started looking at things a little differently. This wasn't something I just decided to do, it just happened. What I realized was that I was starting to focus on those around me, rather than God. Lately, I have been diving back into the word daily. I guess for a while this was something that I hate to say, was not becoming a priority. I believe for me that staying fresh in the Word is something very important.

This past week, I have been shown some very tangible ways in which I have been blessed. I know that it isn't a direct correlation to me being hungry as of late, but it is always great to see the power of God working in my life. He surprised me the other day, and the feeling was great.

Father, I thank You for understanding my weaknesses. I thank You for accepting me, for me. I smile to know more about You and look forward to that through Your word. You are my Lord, and with that I thank.

Time with the Folks

Until this past weekend it had been more than two months since I had seen my parents. Lately I have been really missing them. And after looking at my calendar it will be some time when I do make the trip back home. But last week I called my father up and asked him to meet me some where half way for lunch.

So on Sunday after the service, I rushed out of the movie theater and headed to meet the folks. Since they live in Salisbury, somewhere near the Bay Bridge was the most central. We ended up meeting at a seafood restaurant called, "The Fishermans Inn." It is right on the water in Kent Narrows. As I pulled up I saw my parents getting out of their car, it gave me such a warm feeling. I guess I felt an immediate sense of love. I feel so fortunate to have such a strong family, and a family that is not separated. Well anyways, we got the hugs in and headed in. Quickly my mom did the glance over to see if I was eating well. They think because I am a single guy, that I starve myself. So my mom was full of questions, but it was nice. I typically speak to my father so it was a way for her to catch up with me. The meal was great and so was the conversation. It was very comforting to be there with them. Since I am pretty much the only child to move away, and the only one that is not married, they seem to still feel tied as parents and supporting. To give you an idea of my father's character. This man is unbelievably generous to those around him. At least once a month I get a letter from him and a gift card. My mother wanted to know all the in's-and-out's of my new job. So most of the conversation was a catch up on my life. But then I got to hear the new things going on in their lives. My mother may be promoted soon to assistant director of Nursing at the nursing home that she works at. I thought that was great. We talked for a few hours and all agreed that we need to try to meet up more often.

I only live three hours from my family, but three hours is enough distance to make visits difficult. I must say that I cherish any moment or time I can have with them. Some people don't realize how lucky they are to have their family so close. It's when they aren't around when you feel it. I am going to make an effort to make time for them. They mean so much to me.