I think I've found a church. They meet in the Palo Alto High School theater. During worship songs at the beginning, they turn the lights down. Anyone who has been in church with me knows I often cry during worship. I'm an emotional person. This became much worse about a year ago. Having grown up with Christian parents, I sort of take the whole "God came as a man and died for me" thing for granted. You know, 'yeah, yeah, but what have you done for me lately?' So I started praying that the death and resurrection would really matter to me. I prayed that way for three months and have been crying during worship songs ever since. Mention heaven? I think of my Mom up there boogie-ing the night away, and I cry. Jesus? I am overwhelmed by who he is and what he's done, I cry. "You give and take away"? I had a house and now I don't, I cry. Bottom line? A dark theater is a good thing!!
But that's not the mortification of which I speak. I met a cool couple after church a couple weeks ago. The guy turns out to be a wonderful networker. He sent an email to both me and a graphic design friend of his. From the casual way he talked about her, she sounded like a young, free-lance type designer. When I wrote to her, I took that tone: "Hey, just moved here, let's do lunch and chat". I got back an out of office reply which included her job title:
Art Director for a large SF firm.
How do I take it back and write a lovely, grammatically correct letter, "Dear Ms. _____, [insert professional qualifications and much flattery here] I would love an opportunity to meet with you and discuss design in the Bay area."?
7 comments:
Hey don't feel too badly. Isn't it nice and humbling to have one of those "open mouth, insert foot, jam down throat" moments? Seriously, maybe your open and free attitude will be a breath of fresh air for her. She might even appreciate it, especially if she's used to getting emails that kiss up to her title. She might even think that you are the type of person who could like her for her own sake....and that's one of the best qualities one wants in a colleague. That's just my opinion....I'd hire you anyway. =)
GASP!
PLEASE! FOR MY SAKE!
Go there. Please! PLEASE! Go to this church. 13Months often says about me that I'm up on the "industry" (church) and though I often take that to be a bad thing, he swears it's not. And as someone who "knows the industry" I guess...this church is fantastic! And the REASON it's fantastic, is BECAUSE it's NOT "in the industry." I mean, it is, but...please. GO there. They're doing what they can to tell the gospel and share the gospel in words and ways that mean something.
Pahlease... go there. :-) Then tell us all about so we can act like we go there, too!
Angie, your comment is both funny and confirming. I was thinking of checking out another church in San Jose, but I suspect it's very much 'in the industry'...
Don't get so uptight about being breezy. You're in California now.
I remember an article in the National Geographic. The writer finished eleven years as a reporter on the Boston Globe. When he left, the Managing Editor said, "Mr. Giles, it has been a pleasure working with you. Thank you for your excellent efforts."
When he arrived at the San Francisco Chronicle, the
Managing Editor said, "Hi, Wayne. Welcome aboard."
I'm glad you found a church. SG & I were attending the Korean church here but it just became too much as far as committment was involved. Started to overtake our lives, so we left. But I feel I need to find a place; I'm just too lazy to get out there.
As for the art director, I agree with inkling--wait to hear back from her and sense her reaction until you feel too badly. She might find your casual attitude refreshing.
I think that taking the tone used by the mutual party was appropriate. But take a few minutes and ask the Lord for some direction on this...
Even though I don't belong to any organized religion, I too get all mushy about spiritual (and nostalgic) feeling about church and hymns... hope this church works out for me, it's nice to have a place of comfort.
I agree that, since a friend is referring you, breezy should be most acceptable, at least at this point. If you do end up submitting a resume, then you can up the formality... hope it all goes your way!
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