It was in Office Space where I heard that the best time to lay off people in a company is on a Friday, since there are claims that it's more unlikely that something bad (rather, damaging to the company) would follow over the weekend, when most employees, especially managers, are not around. 5 of us posed as judge, jury, and executioner over the futures of 17 employees today. Phone certifications for yet another batch of oblivious souls ended today. 5 of these people have ended this week receiving the statistically timely news that they have reached the end of the road. God bless them.
This strategy was apparently done on me as well, minutes before I clocked out of my last shift for this week. Thankfully they didn't fire me. However, I was informed that contrary to my regular duties, I will be joining the rest of my colleagues in my department in taking in calls. Instead of listening to calls, we will be taking them just like we used to. Seeing as a majority of them started doing this earlier this month, it did not come as a shock to me that I would be joining the fray sooner or later. I feel like a docile death-row convict, one that's disappointed but ready to accept his fate.
As I was walking up the stairs leading to my room, I made a particular glance towards a picture of my dad on the wall. Usually I would continue my ascent with another thought to blog on my mind, but a thought stopped me or at least slowed me down.
Imagine war. Say all the frontliners are pitted against an enemy which at the moment seems overwhelming. I smiled while my father's picture stayed in my head, as I imagine that he'd pick up a gun and jump into the trench with the rest of the grunts, regardless of what rank he was.
This isn't Sparta. This, however, IS madness. But I'm not about to lay down and die. Come this Monday, I will be in the trenches, armed with what I was initially trained to do, and more.
The sharing of God's word usually precedes a church sermon. I saved the best words for last for this article. The psalm below was declared by countless soldiers on equally countless battlefields, and as we all apparently have our own problems, our own wars to deal with, I pray they'd help you guys out too. God bless our weekends.
Psalm 91 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]
2 I will say [b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."