The Year of Faith, and Change

Life is all about change, isn't it? If we didn't change, we wouldn't grow, and that would be a sad thing, indeed. No matter where you are in life, never stop growing and learning. Ever. Sometimes, though, life changes in ways I didn't see coming. Learning to roll with it is hard, but it's how we do the growth thing.

I've mentioned that my day job is social work. And by "day job" I mean the job that I do in the daytime. It's not my main job by any stretch, at just 10 hours weekly. (Plus drive time, time spent discussing the case with coworkers, staff meetings, paperwork because it's a government job....) After my day job, I then come home and work all evening making dog collars, because that's my main job. I knew I wouldn't be in social work for the rest of my life, but didn't have a timeline for an endpoint. Becky was working with me on the case, which was a great eye opener for her to realize that she chose well in NOT going into social work as she'd originally planned. She was let go by her client just before Christmas. I was let go by mine, too, because she's a trend follower and wanted to do what her husband did. (We worked with a husband/wife couple, if you didn't just pick that up.) (That's not really a HIPAA violation. I didn't give names, an address or anything pertinent. Someday, however, I'll find a way around that law and tell you stories that'll simultaneously make your jaw drop and make you snort coffee through your nose.) (Book royalties will be huge, when I figure that out.) So I was let go at Christmas, but before I was aware that I was let go, I was rehired, because the case manager for the clients refused to let my client let me go. It was a whirlwind weekend that made all our heads spin a little bit, and there was much to talk about come Monday morning.

Just before this happened, however, I was evaluating my day job vs. my real job, and wondering why I placed so much priority on a position that barely bought Starbucks for a month. I enjoyed the work (much to everyone's amazement), but couldn't justify the time doing it. I'd decided to leave when Becky left for college. Except Becky was fired. Kind of. (The company still retained her, she just couldn't work with that client any longer.)

Last week, I knew it was time. I literally woke up and realized that I was done with social work. (It was weird.) So I had a talk with God about this, reminding Him of promises to keep us fed and clothed, and also pointing out that He seems to want me to sell pet products, so that would be a great place to provide the money. Being honest with God in prayer is a reality for me.

The day I quit social work, we also discussed changes on another front. I walked away from a job and a church in the same 24 hour period. I'm not going to discuss this much, because I'm not sure what I feel about it. I can't convey feelings that I can't understand, but we knew it was time, and it wasn't an easy decision. I also don't want to get into the politics of religion with anyone, but need you to know that, while church doesn't define who I am or my relationship with God, it is a large part of my life.

I'm terming 2017 as the year of faith. I don't know where I'm going from here, but God does. I can't see 5 minutes from now, but God knows what the end of the year looks like. I'm just going to trust Him to get me there, and enjoy the scenery along the way.

Just today, He took a 6 month old accident and chose to use that to provide replacement funds for the lost job. He likes to keep me marveling at His creativity, if nothing else. We are blessed beyond measure, and shocked at His provisions. But that's how God rolls. It's going to be a great year.