Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Reflections

I've done a lot of soul searching lately. Knowing you have time limitations and trying to find employment is stressful (many of you understand). Since I've started looking, I've lost 25 pounds. I've even tried to start eating more lately and it doesn't seem to help. I've needed to loose the weight, but now I can't say it's because I diet and exercise. It's because of stress.

I've looked high and low for a good job. Something that even pays close to 2/3 what I make now. Pensacola is not an easy market to crack. Maybe I've been too picky, but I know there are certain things I would not want to do. I think the problem has been, that the one thing I don't want to do everybody wants me to do.

I've been praying a lot lately. Talking to God has given me a great deal of peace. Although he has not answered my prayer for a job yet, he has quickly given me hope every time I've asked. Specifically, when I've been down, I've asked him to just send an interview along, just to keep my spirits up. He's answered in the affirmative every time, generally the same or very next day. He's waiting for something; it could very well be me. I've tossed around:

1) Maybe I've done something wrong
2) Maybe I'm supposed to finish something first.
3) Maybe I'm not listening
4) Maybe it's just not time, etc.

For those who don't know, I've been given until June 30th by Dave to find something. After that I'm on my own. Jodi and I have sold our house and we are renting it back until then or until I find employment. If June 30th comes close and no Job is in sight, we are moving regardless. There is no reason to stay here. Jodi's Job is based in Pensacola anyway. And at least down there I can more actively search.

I've prayed that God would not let it come to this, but He may have other plans. All I can do is trust Him. And try to be patient.

18 comments:

JS said...

When I have needed prayers, and asked my friends to do so for me, they have never let me donw, and I see no reason why we will let you down.

God works in mysterious ways. It is easy for me to say this, but you have to know He is in control. You have to know that He wants to take care of you and your family more than you even do.

Proverbs 30:7-9, one of the coolest prayers in the Bible...

Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;

Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

God will provide. I am not brave enough to pray the above prayer. Sometimes I think I am too selfish.

bigsip said...

God does indeed give us what we need.

I was down to the wire when I was being laid off from Lockheed. I needed a job ASAP.

Not only did God give me the job here, he gave me a chance at a job in Pensacola, a new one in Augusta, and my old one in Augusta!

Trust me, God always comes through.

I like that prayer, too Jamison.

My Dad has always said, "I don't think the Lord wants me to be wealthy. He probably knows I couldn't handle it."

God puts us through the fire sometimes to make us stronger and bring us closer to Him. He's annealing you, my friend.

Be patient and trust in Him. It's going to be glorious when He comes through!

JS said...

Have you prayed for patience lately? if you have, this is God's way of teaching you patience. If you haven't prayed for patience, God may be forcing you to learn it.

bigsip said...

LOL!

It's true. If you pray for patience, humility, faith, and plenty of other Christian traits, God will use what He knows will work on you.

Tribulation worketh patience...

Mat Brewster said...

I've been out of a job many times. Almost everytime I've moved somewhere (and I'm up to about six times now) I've not had a job going in.

The hunting has always stressed me out, and I've gotten down to the nitty gritty a few times, but everytime something works out. Once or twice it even took a few little temp jobs to keep me a float before something better came along.

Hang in there pal.

JS said...

I envy Chuck in most ways, however, I don't envy him in the job hunting dept. You all know that I used to go on tons of interviews. I gave up because I simply hate them. I think Chuck likes them, but I hate them and hope to never go on another for as long as I live.

I hope my next job I get is a result of someone just liking me a whole lot and hires me on the spot...

mullinz8 said...

Chuck you’ll hit something. You mentioned that all the jobs people want you for you are not into. Maybe you should reconsider this position. Your goal right now might be to get something to help the transition from AL to FL with a bit more money and once you’re settled you’ll be able to change gigs.

Maybe the goal right now is just getting into Fl easily. I would never ask someone to compromise their position and status but maybe this isn’t the compromise.

For a week a man has been listening to the radio as the weather people warm against a massive flood. As the rains come and come and come the guy is force onto the roof of his place. As the water reached the gutter a boat pulls up to him and the rescuer tells him to get it. The man calls back “God will save me!”
The next day the water is at the top of the roof and another boat pulls up, “Get in Please!” The man replies, “God will save me!”
Standing atop the chimney with inches to go a helicopter fly by as the loud speaker echoes, “We’re here to save you!” Over the propellers din he waves them away shouting “God will save me!”
In a timeless moment he awakes in a glorious cloudy space to the sound of a peaceful and wise voice, “Hello, I’m God. Welcome to Heaven.”
“Dear Lord,” The man begins “I waited and waited and you never saved me.”
God returns, “I sent you two boats and a helicopter, what did you expect?”

JS said...

Larissa got laid off years ago from a programming firm.
She took the first job she could get; human resourses assistant for Regions bank.

A week later she landed the job she has now, and has had for well over 6 years. A job that pays the bulk of our household expenses.

Dont turn your nose up at a job so wuickly my friend.

kermitgrn said...

I'm not thumbing jobs as I see it. For one, I don't want to mislead someone into thinking they've found the person they were seeking. I want to be honest with myself and future employers. Second, I would rather be down there without a job for a while, than be in a job I never wanted to begin with I would be stuck wondering when I was going to find another job. That's way to stressful to me.

bigsip said...

I can tell you all right now that this is not my "dream job".

It pays well and the folks are nice, but it's pretty lame, in my opinion (no offense to Larissa).

I am, however, grateful that I had good friends here who turned me toward this job. I have learned a lot, and most of all we are where we want to be for the rest of our lives.

Part of me says, "Take a job; any job." But, part of me knows how stressful it is to change jobs and do something you don't really love.

For me, it was what I had to do for my family and it has turned out fine. I suppose it's just another sacrifice I had to make so that we could move and have Rachel at home. But, it's been more than worth it and has worked out wonderfully!

I know you are doing this, but just keep your options and mind open, my friend. You never know what might be the best decision sometimes until a while later.

Either way, you're in our prayers.

JS said...

Larissa thinks her job is lame and boring too... so no offence taken I am sure.

kermitgrn said...

I'm not being that picky...I hope. I don't care if the job is boring. I was looking forward to a particular Job I knew would be boring, but the position was canceled. I just know there is one this I don't want to be doing all day and that's programming. I'm not good at it and I don't pretend to be. Maybe I should have just said that to begin with. I don't know why I did not.

I don't mind doing occassional programming or even if it were a small portion of the job. I just do not want it to be the primary focus of my day.

bigsip said...

Totally understandable, my friend.

You shouldn't attampt anything you're not qualified for. It'll only bring stress.

I just hope you can find something that'll work for you and your family.

JS said...

Sip... is there an Anteon branch down that way?

They dont just hire programmers...

bigsip said...

True...

There is an Anteon office there, but it's probably going to close soon.

They also have a very limited amount of people there.

I think Chuck looked into it and I sent some emails, but nothing came of it.

I told him to talk to Larissa about it, too.

Don't know if he ever did, though.

kermitgrn said...

I believe I sent Larissa my resume, but I have not seen anything in the area for some time.

kermitgrn said...

The local branch may have closed. The closest thing is in Panama City....way to far. Might as well stay in Monkeytown

bigsip said...

Yeah, I had a business trip down there last year and the folks there didn't seem to think things were going too well in that area.

There are so many other contractors down there, though, that Anteon's presence (soon to be part of General Dynamics) is inconsequential.

Probably have better luck with other companies with more jobs.