Hello!
The season is picking up. I am grateful that the season has been slow enough to this point that I have been able to build a rhythm before the full season ensues. Now that I have most of the basics of the front desk covered and familiar, I've been challenging myself to start remembering guests' names. It's amazing how people respond when they hear their name spoken to them the next day--it's the feeling that someone went out of their way to make sure they remembered you. Guests are now coming to the front desk, and in several occasions, they've waited specifically for me to help them. This in turn is a big boost for me.
Even though this sounds idyllic, remembering everyone's name is difficult. Most of the time, I'll remember one's face, but not their name. Several times I've made the mistake of crossing people's names as well, so I'm aiming for accuracy in the midst of this. While I'm struggling to remember a name, the guests are usually gracious, but sometimes I'll get an annoyed look instead that seems to say, "The name is Smith. It's always been Smith." This is when saying "Hey you!" seems to be a very attractive alternative.
This week I celebrated a milestone: I sent out my 200th postcard of the year! I really should setup a PayPal account with a note saying, "Want a postcard? Chip in a buck." On an average week I send 10-15 postcards, and sometimes I'll do 25-30. Normally, I pass the 200 postcard mark in mid-August when I am preparing to return home; so I'm curious to see how many will be sent total. I started doing postcards my first year at Zion National Park. Having so many friends and family back in the Pacific Northwest, buying souvenirs for everyone is impractical for a college student, so instead I send postcards. It helps people participate vicariously in my summer experience, doesn't take too much time, and is far less expensive than getting a small trinket no one would use upon my return. Within my list of people I regularly send postcards to, this week I discovered that I kept making an address error to one particular person (Sorry, Mom). After five years of postcards, how in the world could I forget her address? How many times do I flip through my address book trying to remember my sister's new address when I've written it on these postcards for the past three weeks?
As the rainstorms have passed further east, I was able to grab my guitar last week and watch the sunset. I am loving Lake Powell because of the incredible sunsets we're getting here! The red rocks glow in the lingering light, followed by intensely fuchsia clouds. I was fiddling through songs, trying to remember the chords to play for each of them; often I would stop mid-song because I couldn't remember any more. In the midst of my plucking and trying to complete a song, I started plucking my guitar strings..."I have a Maker, He formed my heart. Before even time began my life was in His hands." As the song progressed, I no longer struggled to remember the chords; each new chord came naturally as I continued singing, "He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls and He hears me when I call".
What a contrast--I am always struggling with connecting names with faces, trying to remember people's new addresses, or even trying to pluck the right chords to songs that I have sung repeatedly hundreds of times, but before the world was even formed, God knows my name. I don't have to be afraid that He might've forgotten me or that He has more important things to keep in the forefront of His mind. He knows me, my doubts, my worries, my struggles, and my fears. Unlike the hotel guests who have to bring me up to date on their situation before I can engage and respond to these people, I can trust that He knows and that He cares.
This was a incredible word of encouragement to me this week. I hope it blesses your week too.
Photos of the week are now available on the Photos of the Week page. These pictures are from a nearby slot canyon on the Navajo Nation. It is so incredibly beautiful!
Blessings!
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