Monday, April 3, 2017

Biloxi Beach


The sky erupted in fiery clouds—
With sun then setting in splendid light.
The dark encroaching with its fingers proud,
And daylight surrendered to the coming night!


- D. Benning

Biloxi Beach - Schooner pier Sunset by Don Young, https://www.facebook.com/shutterbay?hc_ref=NEWSFEED&fref=nf

My Career



I worked at a glue factory but it really didn't hold my interest.  My boss said that I couldn't stick to my tasks.  I thought his comments were tacky; they didn't set well with me.

I worked at an undergarment manufacturing plant where I was part of the foundation.  It looked like that was going to work out until I lost my support.  Thus my time was brief.

I went out on a limb and logged some time with the forest service, but my career aspirations were quickly felled.

I found that I took too much for granite to work as a geologist.  My core aspirations didn't hit pay dirt.

I had no patience for medicine and many of my co-workers nursed grudges against me.  I believe that they doctored my files and drug my reputation down.

My tenure with the Power Company was shocking and short!  Even though the accusations were groundless, I knew how to conduct myself.

When I worked with the HVAC company I received a very cool reception.  I looked for another conduit for my future—one where I wouldn't just be blowing hot air!  I thought a librarian might be the best position for me, but all the good jobs were already booked.  Things were stacked against me. and I found many of the employees already so reserved.

I saw no future in finance, and was advised not to take stock in marketing.  My stint as a telemarketer was put on hold.  Even my gem job in the jewelry business lost its sparkle and had no ring to it.  I found that I was behind and drowning in responsibilities as a plumber.  I had to leave that joint since it drained my energy!  I knew that I was not the type to be a secretary either; that did NOT spell well for my future.

So looking further into other career options, I tried to picture myself as a photographer but came up negative.  I received a lot of static while working in a radio station.  I noted that a career in music left me feeling flat and unnatural; I never understood the staff, so I left not appreciating their tone.  My brief experiment as a chemist showed that I had basically no solutions.  While working for Duracell, I felt charged and positive but was accused of battery. 

Nothing jelled when I worked in a restaurant—it seems my plans were half-baked.  I came to a fork in the road and was unable to steak out my claims.  I found myself in a jam and was left to stew about my problems all alone.  I was being spread too thin.

I never attained my goal in the sports world.  Nor could I pull enough weight to get into a job as a fitness instructor even though I had danced my way through many of their hurdles. 

Later the interviewer said I was too sharp to work in the balloon factory, but not bright enough for their light bulb division.  The ranch didn't want me since they had too much dirt on me, and I refused to put up with their BS.  I was never able to build upon my plans to become an architect—people had other designs for me.  Besides, I was floored by all the requirements.

I was too slow for fast foods and too fast for slow pitch softball.

My memories of working at NestlĂ© are sweet although my career hopes crumbled since the chips were down—but I since I did not want to fudge on those details, I threw in the towel and toss my cookies.

I was on the road to becoming an automotive repair specialist, but my training never really got into high gear.  So after dodging a few bumps, I shifted gears and signaled a new direction.

So that's why I am now a career specialist.  I can advise the up and coming students on the many jobs choices they have from an insider's perspective.  Now why wasn't there someone like me around when I started my career search?

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Cypress At Sunset

With parting glance
   and somber nod,
   The sun retired unto its room;
The closing night
   with shadows close,
   Demurely bowed ere spreading gloom.

- D. Benning

Cypress at Sunset by Christine Duhon,  https://www.facebook.com/christine.duhon.39

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Sunset on the Kanawha


Patrick Street Bridge, Charleston West Virginia, photographer by Kevin Jack, https://www.kevinjackphotography.com/

The darkening clouds,
   midst fiery skies,
with lengthening shadows,
   the daylight dies.
Yet mirrored in quiet waters
   as an echo from the day,
Caught on the river as polished brass,
   undaunted by encroaching gray.
And slung between the halves
   a bridge connecting truth:
left to right, and sky to land,
   with mem'ries from my youth.

- D. Benning


Kanawha River, Charleston West Virginia, photographed by Kevin Jack, https://www.kevinjackphotography.com/


See also his facebook page.

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

To God Thy Way Commending



To God thy way commending,
Trust him whose arm of might,
The heavenly circles bending,
Guides every star aright:
The winds, and clouds, and lightning,
By his sure hand are led;
And he will dark shades brightening.

Show thee what path to tread.
 


Although to make God falter,
The powers of hell combine,
One jot they cannot alter
Of his all wise design:
All projects and volition
Of his eternal mind,
Despite all opposition,
Their due fulfillment find.


No more, then, droop and languish,
Thou sorrow stricken soul;
Even from the depths of anguish,
Whose billows over thee roll,
Thy Father's hand shall draw thee:
In hope and patience stay,
And joy will soon shed over thee
An ever brightening ray.


All faithless murmurs leaving,
Bid them a last good night,
No more thy vexed soul grieving,
Because things seem not right;
Wisely his scepter wielding,
God sits in regal state,
No power to mortals yielding,
Events to regulate.


Trust with a faith untiring
In thine Omniscient King,
And thou shalt see admiring
What he to light will bring.
Of all thy griefs, the reason
Shall at the last appear:
Why now denied a season,
Will shine in letters clear.


Then raise thine eyes to heaven,
Thou who canst trust his frown;
Thence shall thy meed be given,
The chaplet and the crown:
Thy God the palm victorious
In thy right hand shall plant,
Whilst thou, in accents glorious,
Melodious hymns shall chant.


—Paul Gerhard (1606-1676), translated by Frances Elizabeth Cox, in "Hymns from the German, "1864.


Based on Psalm 37: 5 - 7

 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.