Can you stand another prayer request?

[CBHagman]

Since last year I have been trying to make a transition to another job and possibly another career. Between working six days a week at two jobs and volunteering on the Kerry campaign, I started exploring options and preparing resumes.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to make the transition, and I don't think it would be good to plan on staying at my current workplace, both for personal reasons and professional ones. There is considerable pain in the current situation, and I actually think it would be dangerous for me to continue as I have done.

Could you please offer up a prayer that I will find what God wants and in the right time? I know our timing isn't always God's, but I kind of hoped that divine sense of humor would grant me a new position by the feast of Saint Anthony of Padua (June 13th). It's not an arbitrary date, by the way; the feast day is important symbolically and also due to some workplace developments.

Thanks to anyone reading and/or praying.

[scarlet_owl]

1. You have my prayers.

Put it into God's hands.

[elshiva]

2. Praying for you!

God will do something, but ???

Hope!

[CBHagman]

3. Thanks for the prayers!

I did get an e-mail yesterday about a potential position.

Thanks for the feedback and support.

[UrbScotty]

4. Absolutely!

I will definitely pray for you. :hug:

[shrike]

5. Done

Let us know what happens.

[CBHagman]

6. Thanks and an update.

Thanks to all who have prayed. I really appreciate the support!

I got contacted for an interview yesterday. It's scheduled for Tuesday and looks pretty intense. My heart is practically in my mouth at this point, but God is definitely working out there.

Thanks so much!

[Matilda]

7. Just saw your post ....

Best of luck for today.

[DemBones DemBones]

8. So did I and of course I will pray for you today

that the interview goes well and (if it's right for you) that you be offered the job.

Some prayers you might find useful. . .

[CBHagman]

9. Got through the interview/test today.

Thanks to all who prayed!

Where does it go from here? I don't yet know, obviously. But the main thing is to do the right thing.

I keep thinking of Father Mychal Judge's prayer:

"Lord, take me where You want me to go; let me meet who you want me to meet; tell me what You want me to say, and keep me out of Your way."

[Maeve]

10. We each have a path

Sometimes it is a scary one and sometimes it ends where we would not want to be, but you are correct--"the main thing is to do the right thing".

Hang in there and know you have unseen support!

[CBHagman]

11. Yes, it's funny how that works.

"We each have a path.

"Sometimes it is a scary one and sometimes it ends where we would not want to be..."

I keep thinking of Saint Anthony of Padua wanting to be a martyr and winding up in a very different place, or Corrie ten Boom and her extraordinary life.

Sometimes, though, it's very confusing on the way. Years ago I interviewed for a job at the Holocaust Museum. I was very excited by the prospect, but the second interview went very, very badly, and I felt as though the bottom had dropped out of the world. It took four to six months after that before I found the job I've had for the last 10 years.

Now, when I look back, I think it probably was not meant to be! And I would hate to have missed all the people I've met on my current job, plus all the experiences I've had and things I've learned.

So discernment is key. But sometimes it's hindsight, not discernment! :-)

[Maeve]

12. "God draws straight with crooked lines"

Hubby's tale--several years ago,he was in a horrible job and suffering clinical depression, looking for a way out. Seriously bad situation, trust me.

A friend was in a bar one Friday. Because it was Good Friday, the bar was nearly empty and he struck up a conversation with the only other patron, who gave him a business card--his company was looking for computer-savvy people. Friend didn't need the card, passed it along to Hubby. Hubby applied and was offered an interesting job, so the next time his boss dumped on him, he quit!
New job turned out to be less than hoped for, but gave him the skills he needed and the "in" to a better job after a few tight years. Final result--a career he loves and one that pays better than ever.

My tale--offered a job with the school system a few years back, which fell thru due to several odd mistakes. I decided I didn't want it after all and recommended someone else; she was hired and has moved from part-time to full-time, from office help to teaching (back to school). I had the time to develop my storytelling and now I'm working on a career that I LOVE. Not the path I'd intended, but better. And very confusing on the way :D

[CBHagman]

13. Those are the stories I want to hear, Maeve.

I've heard all the heartbreaking stories and find myself clinging to the real-life inspirational stories.

It's especially heartening to hear of your entry into a vocation you're passionate about. I'm sure you know how rare that is. One of my co-workers, a part-timer, didn't find his passion until after he retired from the military. Now he has a creative outlet, as well as yet another line of work (I'd say this was probably his fourth career).

When you have a chance, I'd like to hear more about how you got into storytelling...

[Maeve]

14. How I got into storytelling

I started as a volunteer in the library at my kids' school. First, I was just there to mind the place while the librarian read to the K-2 classes. Then there was a "Mystery Reader" program in my daughter's 1st grade, where the class would have a parent come in and read to the kids, often dressed in costume. I did that for Halloween, telling them a bit about the origins of the holiday and read a story about dealing with fear (I contend that dealing with fear is a major point to the celebration).
Next step was to do the same for the other classes, and it became a Halloween staple. Then I did the storytimes for the week of St Patrick's Day with Irish history, stories and songs. My performances became popular enough that the older classes wanted in on it. I wrote stories when I couldn't find books to read at the appropriate levels and so it started...
After a couple of years, one of the teachers said, "You know, you can get paid for doing this." I contacted the local Irish festival and got my first professional gig, joined the local storytelling organization and here I am.

Check out if there is a storytelling group in your area. Most are open to listeners as well as tellers (if you can't find one, PM me and I'll search the national lists for you)

[CBHagman]

15. It's funny you should mention that...

I had a co-worker some years back who went back to school to become a librarian and then also got seriously into storytelling. I have her business card and have been meaning to contact her.

Frankly, I've also thought about writing an article about people who find their passion, sometimes in roundabout ways.

I believe that what I'm going through now may be a summons to another path. I would like to feel a bit more confident of being led, of course, or least, as Mychal Judge said, not getting in God's way. :-)

Thanks to all for the great support!

[CBHagman]

16. Still struggling here.

I'm holding on to the hope that something beautiful will happen, that my current situation could be the best thing that ever happened to me, but I must confess to feeling the strain. It's the work week, the job hunt, and the fact that a friend and former co-worker, right on cue, called me late tonight and pumped me for developments in our company, apparently expecting bad news. The latter hit me so hard that I was upset for almost an hour afterwards.

Sorry to spill so much, but I figured I'd be frank (and seek support). I'm trying to seek out people who will not drag me down.

Thanks to all.

[Maeve]

17. Hang in there

As I mentioned before, we had several lean years before Hubby's path reached a sunny spot. Keep looking, keep hoping and Non illigitamus carborundum!

(pulled that last one from http://www.yuni.com/library/latin.html , a fun place to check out a bit of latin. Have fun; you need a break now and again)

[CBHagman]

18. Thanks, Maeve!

A friend of mine (an Episcopal priest, no less) reminded me of that quote a few years back during a rough time.

And the bastards are certainly big on getting us all down these days, huh? :-)

But I'll re-read your account of your and your husband's experiences and draw inspiration from that. Again, who's to say what's happening to me isn't the best luck I've had?

And my proofreading course book should be in tomorrow's UPS delivery. Onward and upward!