Matchmaking at its finest

The CEO of the company I work at is a very interesting and unique 70 year old man, who has more money than I would know what to do with. Case in point: he just bought a 2009 Jaguar. Just cause he can. Can we say jealous??
Anyways, he's only at the office about four months a year- basically during football season. He is a huge fan of our college team, and holds season tickets. Outside of football season, he is usually at one of his two lake homes.
This past week he was in one of my co-worker's office and evidently my name came up in the conversation. The conversation went something like this:
CEO: Does Holly have a boyfriend?
CO-W: No, she's single right now.
CEO: Well, why on earth not?
CO-W: I don't think she's met anyone she's very interested in.
CEO: That's a crying shame. She's cute as can be and has a great personality. She should have a boyriend.
CO-W: I wish I knew someone to hook her up with, but I don't.
CEO: Well, is she bringing a date to the wedding?
**SIDENOTE**: the wedding was the wedding of another co-worker that was taking place that Saturday evening
CO-W: No, I think she's going to come by herself.
CEO: Well, if she shows up alone, then I'm going to hook her up with someone!

The CEO then proceeded to march out of my co-worker's office, and she proceeded to come straight to mine laughing hysterically at the prospect of this 70 year old man hooking me up.

I found it quite humorous myself but realized this might prove to be a great source of embarrassment. When the CEO drinks enough, which he does quite regularly, I could totally see him grabbing the mic at the reception and asking if any singles guys in the room would be my date for the night. He has no inhibition or shame! I said this to my co-worker and she laughed even harder and said, "You're right, he would totally do that!!"
I grimaced. Oh the joys of fighting of unwanted dating help.

The next day brought a situation that I never would have dreamed I would be in, that of turning down a "date" with a 70 year old, married, multi-millionaire. Yes, it's true. The situation... how should I put this? ... "heated up."

The CEO was back in my co-worker's office talking about the wedding.
CO-W: Is your wife going to be to make it to the wedding?
CEO: No, she's still at the lake house. She won't be back in time. I'll be going by myself.
CO-W: You should take Holly!! She's going by herself.
CEO: Nah, she wouldn't want to go with an old guy like me.
CO-W: Well, she might not want to go with you, but I bet she would love to ride in that car of yours!
CEO: Nah, I'll be drinking, it probably wouldn't be a good idea.

At this point, my co-worker came in and told me what she had suggested to our CEO and I could have killed her.
"Allie how could you suggest that to him! I'm going to kill you if he actually asks me!" She just laughed without mercy. Neither one of us actually thought anything would come of it however.

An hour later, in walks the CEO.
CEO: Do you want me to pick you up for the wedding on Saturday?
ME: After almost choking on my own saliva for swallowing suddenly proved very difficult...
"Oh, well thank you so much for the offer, but I'm not sure that I'll be able to stay very long at the reception, so I probably should just drive myself."
CEO: Okay.
He then turned and walked out the door.

I contemplated the fact that I just told the 70 year old, multi-millionaire, married CEO of the company, where his word is law, "No." Not many have done that and survived.
I hope I still have a job tomorrow.

The forbidden word.

Desire.
When a Christian single uses that word, it usually brings a "tsk tsk" and gentle, yet biting rebuke. Example: If a Christian single woman says, I desire to be in a relationship/marriage. What is the response? We've all heard or said it. It goes something like this: "Now Laura, you just have to be content in God. He'll provide a man in your life when you finally stop looking for one."
I am finally proclaiming how much I disagree with, and usually, detest that second sentence. Desire does not automatically equal lack of contentment. That line of reasoning basically states that when we as Christians desire something, God will only grant it to us when we stop desiring it. Then that means if we become unemployed, we should never look for a job. If we try but can't have a child after marriage, we should never look into adoption. If we desire an 'A' in class, we must learn to be content with a 'D'. If we feel God is calling us to a ministry, we should never search one out. By this line of reasoning, God always drops everything we desire directly into our laps, but only when we have reached the proper level of contentment in a vague "content" measuring thermometer.

I have known many girls who sincerely desired a relationship and in fact were looking for that special man, found him, and are now married to him. Does that mean they were not following God's true plan for relationships because they were looking for one? Or were they just at a better level of contentment and so God 'rewarded' them with a relationship? I don't think I'm the only one who sees the lack of Biblical truths to support that reasoning.
I am not saying that singles do not need to be content first and foremost in the Lord. I do believe that lack of contentment in God is the reason at times for singleness - God is teaching contentment outside of the opposite sex. It is an extremely important lesson to learn, because I realize that a spouse will not bring true contentment in this life, only the Lord can fill that role.
However, I also believe that God does not ask us to totally abandon all of our desires (the godly desires) in the name of "contentment." My sister said it like this: "God does not necessarily ask us to give up our desires, but rather to realize that He is worth more than those desires." It doesn't have to just be about desiring a relationship (the desire for a godly marriage is usually a good thing!); it might be desiring a child, a job, a ministry opportunity, a move closer to family - it could be any good desire that has not come to fruition in our lives. What we must come to understand is that whatever prayers we have, God answers based on what is best for His glory and our sanctification, both of which ultimately mean our best interest. God saying "wait" or "no" is not necessarily a judgemental statement, punishing us for lack of contentment or faith. Instead, He is saying "Yes" to a situation that will make us more like Him, or He is having us wait for a situation that will bring us more joy than what we originally asked for. We must keep in mind that every desire that He says "No" or "Wait," He is saying "Yes!" to something far greater.
Hannah desired to have a child for years, and finally God granted her prayer. He was not waiting until she no longer desired a child, He was waiting for the perfect time to grant her request. He said "No" for years so that when He did say "Yes," Israel would have one of the greatest prophets who ever lived during one of the most important periods of their history - the transition to the reign of human kings.

So, next time a Christian tells you that you need to learn the true meaning of contentment before God will grant your desire, keep in mind the true reason for the wait. You might be waiting to marry the next Billy Graham or Beth Moore, or you might be waiting to give birth to a future President of America. God's "no's" always lead to far greater "Yes's!"

Envelopes, cover letters, and labels.

Every time I'm asked either of these two questions, I'm surprised. Thankfully, I'm not asked every day. Before telling you the question, allow me to give a little background info. At my job, one of my titles is "official mail - opener." Yay! Growing up, and even in college I loved getting mail; it was always a highlight when I got snail mail. Some times it was the brightest spot in my day when an unexpected card or package came. What a great reminder that someone cared! Post-college, I usually dread the mail, because suddenly the mail changed from cards with money to bills demanding money! Now mail makes me cringe even more because at least one hour of every week day is dedicated to opening,sorting, and dispursing the mail for my small company.
So, back to the surprising questions. What are they, you ask?
First: "Holly are you sure this letter came for me?" Second: "Holly, was there anything else in the envelope with this?"

The sarcastic side of me wants to answer the first one with : "No, actually someone else's name was on the envelope, but to have a little office fun, I decided to change everyone's mail!" and the second answer would be: "Yes, there was a huge stack of legal documents, but I was sure you wouldn't need or want to look at them, so I put them through the shredder."

Really? Do you think I am that I stupid? Do you think that I can't read or that I simply throw away all your mail? (Although I will admit some days it is very tempting.)
I do enjoy the look of confusion on their face when I confirm that they did indeed get their correct mail and, not only that, but all of their correct mail. During those times, I just shake my head, and think, "If you only knew how ridiculous that question is."

One day after being asked that question, I was particularly annoyed by the seeming lack of confidence in my ability to open mail. I was having a little vent session with God.
Lord, can I not have a little respect around here? Do I need to post my GPA so people can get the hint that I'm not a complete idiot? It's bad enough that I'm having to be the mail-opener, but do they really have to question if I can read the addresses properly? Do they know how ridiculous the accusation is that I would intentionally not give them their letters or give them to the wrong person?

It was in the middle of this tirade, that the Lord reached down and clicked on that imaginary light bulb in my brain. My rant turned into:
Oh. I do that with you don't I? How many times have I read the Scripture and then said, "Lord, are you sure this is for me? Didn't you want to give this portion of the Bible to Susan to read tonight?" Or "God, aren't you forgetting some of my "mail"? You must have forgotten to give me the part about fulfilling all my dreams and giving me promotions, money, tons of friends, and a great ministry.

I can just see God shake His head, the way I shake mine when asked those questions, thinking "Does she know how ridiculous she sounds?".
"Yes, Holly, I gave you the right Letter. Yes, you are supposed to read those particular Words tonight. No, I didn't leave anything out. That's all of the message and those Promises are all you will ever need."

So, next time you open God's "mail" to us, don't think of who that passage is really meant for. Understand that He sends us exactly what we need, exactly when we need it, and maybe the excitement of opening the "mail" will return once again.