The unemployment extensions ran out Sunday past...
I wasn't too freaked which has been kinda odd and yet, delightful, even when the truck battery died this Sunday and kept me from church...
The lack of emotion these past difficult months kinda made me wonder if I lost touch with reality...or just got in touch with a "higher power". Or maybe in denial???
What I do know is that work just doesn't hold the same expectation for me that it once did... After the fiasco with the last job--being on deck for a month, only to have the carpet ripped out from under me at the last minute... after having found a place out there to live, go through all the relocation stuff, and give up COBRA health insurance----Jobs just don't hold the same "dream factor" they once did. Not in this economy. Not under the current circumstances facing our Nation... One just never knows. There is no more assurance of anything.
Amidst all that, a good friend I've known for years has been coming by (long drive for him each week) to share a bite to eat and talk through our spritual issues, do some prayers and bible study every Thursday... been a good stabilizing gift from him to me.
He and I had talked back after Thanksgiving about a quality assurance role in the company he helps run... and we both got excited. Then he thought it'd be available by Jan...then Feb...then things took a nose dive and it was off the table...been like that ever since.
Out of the blue, he calls me this past Monday and asks when I could start that very job? Quality Assurance Mgr for the plant...not great money...but even with a 75 mi/day drive RT, it will pay bills and let me catch my breath... I was grateful beyond belief, but just couldn't quite comprehend the total turn-around.
I contacted him next day via email and asked if I dreamt it...and he called me to share some background on how things transpired and how it came to pass to ausage some concerns if it was really...real.
I held off sharing till today. Today, I went up and volunteered a day to participate in a manger's meeting...and meet the team... get an updated tour and ended up working with a team to resolve a difficult issue on how to ship a delicate electronic part without damage. It was quite the day. Team building. R&D work. Problem solving and troubleshooting and encouraging group dynamics. Yup. quite the day!
After being off a year..it was a LONG day. My friend, who is Operations Mgr for the whole plant. He said it was an unusually "hectic" day.
I start on salary this coming Monday.
I'm hoping this will grow and continue to afford opportunites for me to share my knowledge, skills and experience . I know I've got a lot to share with these fine folks...and a whale of a lot to learn.
Thanks to so many known and unknown for the prayers. I'd ask that you continue to keep me in prayers through these next months with the commute and all the learning required... that I let Him guide my efforts!
May God grant others in desperate need of work the same positive changes that has befallen me this week.
Keep the Son in your eyes!