Babies

So I'm in Birmingham and just left the hospital where my best and longest friend, Robin Bobo Redding, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.

I can't figure out their computer or I'd post some pictures... that will have to wait.

What a beautiful picture of life, though. Robin and I met when we were babies ourselves, and here we are nearly 29 years later, and she has a child of her own. I'm so grateful for those friendships that truly last a lifetime. I don't have many of those, as I would imagine not many people are blessed with more than one or two.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

Psalm 139: 13-17

Will I or Won't I?

Will. It's a tough thing to get into any discussion about God's Will. But I'm faced with it head-on and I can't seem to shake the knowledge that He's up to something and I'm just floundering around.

So, almost 4 weeks ago I was laid off. I had been hearing rumors that some changes were coming, but I don't think any of us had any idea how big it was going to be. J&J laid off 1000 people from their pharmaceutical divisions. Seeing as I've only been with the company for 6 months, it makes sense that I got the axe. Well, it makes sense, but that doesn't make it not hurt.

Just six months prior I made the decision to leave a 5-year career at Merck for the offer at J&J. I remember at the time not having a clear instinct on what God wanted me to do. Staying with Merck provided stability but the offer to move provided a generous pay increase and a much smaller (and closer to Knoxville) territory. I prayed a ton about it and never felt like God was sending me in any specific direction. So... I made a decision. It was one of those "well, He gives us a brain, right?" moments, and I figured I'd just use my brain.

So looking back, was that the right decision? I don't know. I mean, it stinks to be laid off. But I wasn't too crazy about my old territory with Merck, and not driving 2 hours to the ends of the earth was a great change of pace for the last few months. And... God's really been doing a work in my heart since I took the job at J&J. Which is kinda where I was headed with this (already long) post anyway!

So sometime around January I felt a nudging in my spirit that I was totally unable to ignore. I went to training with the new position and had a blast helping out some of my fellow newbies. While there, the trainers commented that I was a good teacher and should consider returning to the training department to further my career at some point. I had no interest in doing that, but the idea of it awoke a longing in my heart that had long since been put to rest... to be a teacher! God quickly fanned the flames of that long-ago idea, and over the last few months I've felt a direct calling from Him to look into the teaching profession.

So bringing that forward to the recent layoff, I had already been praying that God would give me some clear definition of what He had for my future. I specifically prayed that he would open and close doors clearly for me. I didn't want a repeat of my job change in the fall, where I was uncertain of His Will. So I prayed that if He wanted me to teach that I would know it for. sure. And... then I lost my job.

Which, as many people pointed out to me, was kinda exactly what I had been asking for! It didn't make it less painful (seriously, it ain't fun to lose your job. ever!), but I did feel like God was stirring some stuff together. Then within two days I got a phone call and was asked to interview for another pharmaceutical job.

What now? That was confusing! So, does God want me to turn down this opportunity or look into it? Part of the "gonna be a teacher" plan requires me to go back to school and get licensed... which costs money... so was God providing this job to help me pay for that schooling?

Thoroughly confused, I followed through and applied for the job. Truly, I think I've been scared about this whole process. It's crazy to think of leaving a job I love and have done WELL for over 5 years to go teach. We're talking about a serious cut in pay and benefits (my car! I'll loose my car!) and a huge life adjustment. BUT I also have great peace when I consider what the future may look like.

So anyway, I followed through on the job offer. NAILED the first interview, kicked serious butt on the second interview... and all along I'm just crying out to the Lord... Either give me this wonderful job, or shut this door! Completely! Firmly! Totally! Let there be no questions about Your Will for my life!

So yesterday was "the day" - either I was going to get a phone call that said I had a job, or I would hear nothing at all (how harsh is that? No rejection phone call!). And... I heard nothing. So. God has shut that door. I grieved a little bit last night, not over the job loss, but just understanding that being in His Will sometimes hurts. That manager rejected me, but the Lord of the universe loves me and is protecting my heart. He's doing a good thing for me. It may not feel good to me right now, but He's protecting me.

I read a quote in a book a few days ago that jumped off the page and smacked me in the eyes.
"God's love for and protection of us are always consistent with His will for us - and His will for us is always consistent with what is best, not only for us, but also for a fallen world that He is always trying to rescue." - Craig Parshall

Oh yes, God is good.

And I'm gonna be a teacher!!