For Wilshire Baptist Church (12/16/16)
In the weeks following a presidential election that brings a new administration into office, there is much talk about whether or not the transition will be peaceful. In our own lives, far away from the seat of power, we too crave peaceful transitions. The event that stands out in my memory came in November 2002 – the most chaotic month of my professional career and one of the most meaningful episodes of my spiritual life.
I’d been through a contentious six months at what had been a great job in Fort Worth. The business was changing, the organizational chart was in turmoil, the relationship with my boss had soured and I knew my job was no longer safe. As well, the chaos at work had made the commute from Dallas less desirable so I started making contacts closer to home. That led to a lunch meeting and then an interview with someone at an organization I admired. The interview went fine but I was told to be patient because their hiring process might take months.
While I waited, things got worse in Fort Worth and on a Friday morning before Thanksgiving three of us in the department received a not-so-subtle hint that one of us would be released on Monday. The three of us went to lunch and each of us said, “I hope it is me.” I went home and over the weekend I prayed that I would be the one chosen since I was already looking for a job in Dallas, and I prayed for the people considering me for the new job. I also bought a new shirt and tie to wear on Monday; I wanted to face my potential release from chaos with the same fresh spirit that I would approach a new job.
The corporate gods did not disappoint me: on Monday morning I was escorted to human resources and told my job was over immediately. It didn’t take long to leave because in the weeks leading to that day I had removed the few personal items I had. I drove home to Dallas in peace and waited to see what would happen next.
The God of new beginnings did not keep me waiting: on Friday I got a call that the new job in Dallas was mine and I would start on January 2. I don’t recall specific details about the Christmas holidays that year, but I’ll never forget the feeling I had of complete and total peace.
Fired on Monday and hired on Friday. Yes, I had seen the writing on the wall and had actively looked for an escape and a new beginning. But I do believe the God of Peace was at the center of it all, directing my every move, calming my spirit, and pointing the way to a peaceful transition.