Hey Dad,

I've been having a hard time at work because of some proofreaders on 2nd shift who are jealous of me being on first, even though they don't have the same job as me and there were no job openings for them on 1st.

So anyway, we have an incentive program at work that if you make over 700 stamps a week with 3% or less error rate, you'll get an extra $50. My errors have been going down, but I've been finding some of the things one proofer in particular has been "busting" me for, and for the most part I have done nothing wrong. Therefore, he's making my error rate seem higher than what it actually is and I'm getting ripped off in the process. On top of that, I've been told from a reliable source there that there is at least some resentment there toward me just because I'm working first shift. Go figure--typical factory mentality. So, to make a long story short, it's been wigging me out so hard to be treated so totally unfairly that I've been just short of actually confronting these people, this one guy in particular. For the most part, everybody there is cliquish and aloof and basically won't even make eye contact with me.

I've been doing a lot of feeling sorry for myself over the whole thing and it's been really truly making my life a living hell at work. I finally broke down yesterday after I got home from work and really looked at myself and what a childish fit I was throwing about a job that doesn't even really exist, since I'm only there till August, but I couldn't get stuff in perspective to save my life. Poor Jason did everything he knew to cheer me up, even putting Saffron on me, but nothing seemed to help. Then it happened to occur to me:

Would God give me a job that does this to me?

When I really asked myself that, I looked at the situation and happened to remember a prayer I prayed some time back in which I asked for enemies to love.

FYI: Don't ever pray that unless you really want it answered!!!

So, yes, God did give me this job, and it was to really truly apply what Jesus said in Matthew 5:38-48, and this morning I got to work early and took the closest look at that passage that I ever have. My joy and, well, my existance depended on it.

While I was reading it, it was like I was seeing through the words to what the words really mean, and it was like a light came on, a really bright light, that drowned out all the ridiculousness that I'd been letting build up like a mountain of sewer.

Here's what I wrote down. While you read this, have somebody or everybody follow along in their bibles and you'll agree that Jesus gave me a profound and mystical understanding of what He was trying to say:

People have told you that it's your God-given right to pay people back the same evil they do to you.

But this is what I have to say about it: Don't even resist evil. If somebody hits you on one side of your face, don't even hesitate to turn your head so they can hit the other side, too.

And I say THIS: If you get sued by somebody, and they take your coat, give them your shirt, too.

And this is what I want you to do: If somebody forces you to walk a mile, walk another one with them and talk to them!

If somebody asks you for anything, anything at all, give it to them freely, no matter what. Give to and let people borrow whatever they want of your stuff.

People have told you that you're supposed to love the people you know and like, but hate those you don't like or that treat you badly.

But here's what I have to say:

LOVE your enemies!
If somebody curses you, you bless them back.
If somebody hates you, you return it by doing good things for them.
If somebody is mean to you, uses you, or persecutes you, pray for them.

ONLY THEN will you be called the children of your Father in heaven. He gives the sun and rain and the whole world to EVERYBODY, not just you and not just the good people. If God Himself doesn't show special treatment, what gives YOU the right to do it?

If you love people that love you, so what? You don't expect to get anything for that, do you? Even homo-sexuals, baby killers, and hardened rapists do that!

And if you only greet the people you know and like, what are you doing that's any different or better than anybody else? Even criminals are happy to see their friends!!

What I expect of YOU is that you go ABOVE AND BEYOND what is expected...be impartial and care for ALL HUMANITY, good and bad, just like God does, equally, without regard to who they are, what they do, or how they treat you.

That's what it means to be perfect just as God is perfect.

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