A to E

As you know I am at a new job. Last Wednesday, Thursday, Friday I had training with a man from Washington, DC. We spent three days in an atmosphere of distractions. His phone rang constantly. We had other workers in and out the office all day. My drivers still had to be dispatched and kept running, so learning the tedious data entry program seemed to loom large like Goliath over my head.

My job consists of compliance to the laws, keeping trucks compliant, keeping drivers compliant, keeping trailers compliant, providing trucks and drivers to satisfy the buyers and customers, and each of those areas have data entry into the computer, the logistics. 

On the Monday following my training I realized that I had learned very little regarding that aspect. I tried to enter data. I strained my brain trying to figure it out.

I was very frustrated.

I was very upset with myself. I felt stupid. I was discouraged, very discouraged. So much so, that I gave up and began to clean the break room and the bathroom. (Any of you ladies ever acted out your frustration by cleaning?) 

*sidenote: Imagine if you can, a workplace of 21 men, no women, working with scrap metal on a dusty, gravel lot. Now imagine 4 years of that kind of dirt! That is what I tackled instead of the computer entries. 

I did that because I was feeling so unaccomplished that by doing that, I could leave work feeling like I did something worthwhile. It was the only thing I knew how to do that day.

And when the day was over, I cried. I cried the whole way home. I cried all evening. 

On Tuesday I went to work, humbly. I needed to confess to my boss that perhaps I was too old or too dumb to learn the program.

I got to work at 7:30 am. At 7:31 my phone rang. It was the man from DC that had come up to train me. 

He was calling to apologize. He could see from his computer that I had desperately tried to enter the data. He could see that, clearly, I had no idea. He said I was not to blame for not knowing. He said that apparently he was not a good teacher. 

So for these last three days I have worked with a wonderful woman named, Robin, over the phone. She walked me (baby steps) through every entry into the computer. At the end of the first day, it was beginning to click. I was understanding! On day two, I did the entries while she watched from her computer, cheering me on all day. 

On day three,  I worked alone, only calling her when I found some entries that I hadn't performed before.

So, I am not an expert by any means, but I feel so much better now.

And Robin and I speculated about why I understood her training. She said it's because Bob wanted me to learn by starting at A and going straight to E. Robin taught me how to learn by going A, B, C, D, then E. We laughed.

"Yes,  that is how men are wired, I guess." She said. 

"Unless they're in the hardware store." I said, "then they go A, B, C, D, and E, and women just want A to E." We laughed some more.

She agreed. She said that she just asked her dad to hang a picture on her wall. She said he got the level, the tape measure, the stud finder, the exact nails and almost 2 hours later her picture was hung. Hahaha.

Oh well, I learned that people learn in different ways. Different people need different techniques. 

This is why Jesus taught in parables. Paul taught by using analogies. 

We need to be sharing the gospel with others. But we must be teaching them in ways and means that they can relate to and understand. 

Too often people turn away from hearing because someone has gone from A to E with them and they feel stupid, overwhelmed, unaccomplished, discouraged, and like they will never get it. 

Jesus was very gentle and caring in his teaching. He took the time to meet with people. He took the time to see to their needs. He loved beyond measure. He truly cared. 

Jesus met people on the mountain, by the sea, at the well, from a boat, in the tombs, in the gardens, in upper rooms, at a wedding, by the pools, in the crowds, everywhere.

We need to use our every opportunity to share Jesus. But teach and share in a way that they can follow. 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)