I find that there are many ways to learn. I hope to provide some insight on the ways that I learn, share knowledge, and be a great community citizen to the web.

CREATING A STARTUP WORK ROUTINE THAT MATTERS

At 6:40 am on December 23rd, 2021, enough is enough on being overwhelmed in the morning. It is an official holiday at my place of employment, but here I am still pushing out emails, reviewing dashboards, and stressing on the next set of due dates. Why? It is about routines. The explicit work rituals I have set for myself, and the ones where they are set for me. Full Disclaimer: I do have a decent work startup routine, if I would just follow it.

A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE @ 4 AM

Sometimes it is the small things in life delivered at the right time that bring joy. I thought at first it was the cup of coffee I just made, but then realized it is the intricacies of that cup of coffee that God has paid so much attention to.

CODE REVIEW - IS EVERYTHING IN THE RIGHT PLACE?

Is your foundation in good shape? One of the often overlooked parts of a code review is checking out the structure of the underneath repository. I refer to this as the “bones” or skeleton of the program, application, or service. It is often very easy to overlook a file or folder out of place. The subtle organization of files and folders can be beneficial for software engineers in future work.

THE RIGHT ATTITUDE FOR WORK

The work we do needs to be washed in the joy and glory of the Lord. Yes, this even applies to washing dishes, making a bed, or taking the dog for a walk. Each email written needs to have grace and empathy, each line of code written or taken away is a moral decision that must be directed by God. Toil will then become joyful, a fulfillment of the words “well done good and faithful servant”.

CHOOSE WISDOM OVER FOLLY

Solomon recognized that wisdom is better than folly. One definition of folly is a constructed building that has no purpose but for decoration. What a shame it would be if our lives are only lived for decoration. Let’s have our lives to be purposeful. Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. Ecclesiastes 2:12 - 17 ESV - The Vanity of Living Wisely - So I - Bible Gateway

MASTER OF NONE

I once listened to a podcast that was talking about the pursuit of productivity. The description of the pursuit of productivity by an individual was very like Solomon’s pursuit here to find satisfaction and contentment. Neither seemed to be found. Solomon had all the time and resources to chase after contentment. He jumped from the first thing to the second thing, to the next thing all in an attempt to “evaluate” or “experiment” with the achievement of contentment. This failed.

BOOK SMART OR STREET SMART

The more I gain Godly wisdom and knowledge, the more my heart breaks. I can understand why Solomon says that life can be an unhappy business when it is in the world. I see every day situations of people striving to understand in their own minds. This world is busy with the noise of self accomplishment, self promotion, and self centeredness. Wisdom is realizing that God is in control. Wisdom is not trying to straighten out the crookedness that has been put there intentionally by God. Wisdom is being ok with God taking account for all things in this world and relying on His judgement, mercy, grace and empathy to change hearts and lives. 

NEW IS IN THE DETAILS

Every second there are constant stable things in our lives. They are predictable, they are repeatable, they are a known quantity. I can count on these things to happen. Patterns and order are in every minute detail of God’s creation. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%201:4-11&version=NKJV The true meaning of these verses is what is not said. Not everything is unchanging. It is in these margins that we can find imagination, creativity, and joy. For instance, the sun rises every day, but there is a new masterpiece when it rises in the sky every morning that is not always the same. Clouds create new colors, streams of light, temperature changes, etc. This is all God’s design.

LIVING LIFE WITH PURPOSE - A STUDY IN ECCLESIASTES

I believe Ecclesiastes has become my favorite book in the Bible. There is so much packed into the verses for contemplation, guidance, and just pure wisdom. 

ARE YOU LISTENING OR JUST HEARING?

At four o’clock in the morning the world around me sounds very different than 9am. i appreciate the stillness.