I love being a photographer. However, it’s difficult being a freelancer and somedays I feel the tug of the 9 to 5 call too keenly. Then in church this morning Randy spoke of a man named Ken. Ken is the middle aged son of my friend Helen. Ken died this past weekend from a car accident. Life is fragile. Our bodies can’t endure certain forces. As I watched the back of Helen’s shoulders gently undulate like the peaks and troughs of a wave, I knew that the ocean of her sorrow was a force too great to hold back her tears. Then I saw the hands. The hands of those who love her, those who love Ken, placed with love and comfort on those heavy shoulders. It was in that single moment that my spirit both broke and was renewed. Tragedy takes, but love heals. I heard a story about Ken today. Some time back he suffered from a head injury and was out of work. When asked by a friend how he was dealing with being jobless, he said, “you always have time to make money, but you can’t always make time.” I think I would have liked Ken.
3 comments in “9 to 5”
August 27th, 2007 at 18:41
Thanks for sharing…I love when we can stop to appreciate that life shouldn’t be taken for granted and that it is fragile. It was a good reminder today – sometimes I get stuck in the “rat race” and work, work, work! and possibly forget people and things that are important to me when I get in that mentality.
August 27th, 2007 at 19:25
Hey Dawn,
I know the feeling of getting so involved in my work that I forget other important things. I think you, me and the rest of the world knows this feeling all too well. I do agree with you that it is good to take time to reflect and be grateful. The are many people in this world who truly can say that they have little or nothing to be grateful for, but I certainly am not one of them.
September 2nd, 2007 at 19:45
Hey there, mister! Funny, I was just thinking today how much I think I’d like working for myself! Guess I’ll stay put with my 9 to 5, work for myself on the side, and thank God for each new day with all the joys and frustrations, bewilderments and wonderments that come along! Love you two…Mom Penny
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