A Man of Constant Blessings

Hi.

Hope you're well.

God showed up in very cool ways.  Wanted you to know and be encouraged.

***

Tuesday, June 28th

Big day.

As I shared in a previous blog, a friend invited me to pitch in at my local radio station (MLRS) for a couple of hours while the usual host was on vacation.

I love radio.  Happily agreed to be there, whenever I was able.
 
Had a great time with old and new friends.  Knew I'd miss having such fun when I returned to my real job on Wednesday.  But thankful for the joyous time at MLRS.

***

Wednesday, June 29th

Went to work.  Went pretty well.

Sold one of the things that my bosses pushed us to sell.  The customer was so appreciative of my service that he shook my hand and heartily thanked me.


Just then my boss appeared at my side. 
Wanted to chat. 
Upstairs. 
In the office.

Yup.

Got fired.

Bang.

**

I know.  You're not surprised, any more than I am/was.

Was gonna bitch at/with them, but it was a done deal.
Why beg people you don't respect to regain what you don't want?

I have my opinion about the final straw.  They have theirs. 
But it doesn't matter.

I could have quit whenever I wanted to.
They could have fired me whenever they wanted to.

I would have left if I had a better opportunity.
They simply beat me to the punch.

No tears.  No regrets.  No fear. 
As the French say, "c'est la guerre" or "such is war."

[Men who wonder why the French word for "war" is feminine have never been divorced.]

I endured for 40+ months in a hard job in a harsh environment.  The next day another long-term endurer got fired.  Many of the extant are doomed ... and they know it.  Dreading their call to The Office.

So be it.

Jobs are not Saviors.  Jobs are jobs.
Jobs are not "who we are" or "what we do."
Jobs are jobs.

I worry about people who are freaked out over losing a particular position -- as compared to the loss of income/benefits.  It's as if they have unhealthily blended their identities with a job/title/position or path to Eden.

Women don't get this about men.  They often dismiss a man's quest for work as a quest for power or self-aggrandizement.  Women point to the dishes or laundry and say, "Hey, you want work?  I've got plenty for you, Romeo."

And men don't get the profundity of emotion/loss in woman who cannot have children, but want one/many desperately.  We men dismiss their genetic desire with a "Hey, ya got me!  What more do you want/need?  Let's [have sex!]"

**

Anyway.
I lost my job on Wednesday the 29th.

My final words to the people involved were "God bless you."
Meant it then.  Still do today.  Will tomorrow.

[Mississippi John Hurt is singing God's Unchanging Hand on Pandora]

***

Called MLRS and asked if they still wanted me to fill-in on Thursday the 30th.
Got a warm welcome and an invitation to come in on Thursday.  And Friday, July 1st.  And Monday the 4th.

I often prayed for God to keep me in my job for "a perfect length of time."  God's perfect timing allowed me to go back on MLRS for three extra days.

***

Thursday, June 30th

Got an e-mail from MLRS.  They're looking for a weekend engineer.
 
Tough job.

Simultaneously running three stations.  Doing news.  Capturing highlights from baseball/football/basketball/hockey games and turning them into news items.  Keeping listeners and a Web site up-to-date with the latest news, weather and stuff.  Paying attention to a police scanner in the background.  Switching satellite inputs/outputs.  Joining news/programs in progress.  And knowing what to do when a baseball game is suddenly rained out or when there is a pitching change, etc.

Not for the meek.  Not the kind of job where being pretty, funny, well-dressed or first-in-your-class helps at all.

It's just you vs The Computers, The Weather, The News and a bazillion red, yellow and white buttons. 

Some buttons blink/light up when everything's OK. 
Some, when you've screwed up.
Some lights on buttons don't turn on, but should.

But it's radio and I love it.

Happily volunteered to spend a few hours watching the operation on Saturday evening, July 2nd.  Figured I'd venture through the door God opened.

***

Meanwhile on Tuesday the 28th

The better part of 30 years ago, my family of four lived in an old apartment house on the fringe of a bad neighborhood.  (Now that area needs Wizard of Oz-ish "I'd turn back if I were you" signs.)

One evening I went to play chess with the guy upstairs.  Hours later, both he and his wife "became Christians." 

They asked God, by faith, to forgive their sins.  God forgave them and He graciously accepted the death of Jesus Christ as atonement for their sins.

They (S&P) dedicated their lives to the glory of God.  S&P stuck with that commitment, through thick and thin.  Now, their kids "walk with Christ," as we say in Christian code.

S&P have shown love and mercy to me, even when I wasn't what they or God or I expected from me.

*

On Tuesday the 28th, S&P wrote me this note:

"Dear Robert,

You are always in our prayers.  I have known for some time the Lord wanted us to give you something and today the answer was clearly given.

May your prayers be answered and your spiritual and emotional life be filled to overflowing.

We love you."

*

Their card arrived Saturday, but it got lost in the shuffle.
Opened it last Sunday morning, right before I went to church.

Right before I had to tell many friends that I lost my job.
Right before I was going to ask them to pray that *somehow* God would provide for me.


As I opened S&P's card, out popped a check.
For hundreds of dollars.
More than you and I ever give to others.

That's not all.
Ready?


The card was written on Tuesday the 28th.
The check was written on Tuesday the 28th.
I got fired the next day, Wednesday the 29th.

As God knew before it happened.

***

Faith

You don't have to call that a miracle, but I do.

You don't have to share my faith that God provided for me.
You don't have to share my faith that God will provide for you.

God provided me with more than money.  (There are zillions of rich people who hate their lives ... because you cannot feed money to a soul.)

God encouraged me and strengthened my faith through a tangible reminder that He will never leave me nor forsake me.  Ever.

***

Tuesday, July 5th

Drove back to MLRS.  Waited to speak with the manager.  Told him I'd like to give the evening job a shot.  A little while later, I was hired. 

I've been in training every night this week ... and will be every night for the upcoming week.

It's "just" part-time.  There is a ton of stuff to master. 
Might not do well enough.  I just don't know.

But I did my best yesterday.  I'll do my best today and tomorrow.  And I'll leave the rest to God.

I will be well -- because of God.

***

Today

Life isn't about jobs or friends or unexpected checks.

Life is about knowing that God can take the shattered shards of our lives ... and recreate a meaningful, valuable, hopeful, fearless, life dedicated to His glory.
Has your life has been almost too hard to bear?
I'm sorry.

Has your life been so wonderful that you don't need God?
I'm sorry.


As the Bible says in this Psalm, "Wait for the Lord."

Don't give up.
Trust in God.
He knows where you are, where you will be tomorrow and next week.

A word of hope from Jeremiah 29:11:

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."