I was 32 and I had been in the Air Force for 10 years. I had another 2 years on my enlistment. I was teaching and enjoyed it. I had leaned toward making it a career, but was having doubts. Then someone from my first station called and asked me to interview for a job in California. Well, not happening. I had 2 years left. "Our VP is going to be out there. Meet him. Take the interview." So ... I did. Whatever. He liked me and offered me $10,00 a year more than I thought I would need ... but I still had 2 years.
I was stuck ... but almost immediately after, the military needed to drop people ... fast. "If you want out, get out." I told my commander I wanted out. "Oh, you can't go. We're making this the training base. We need you and 4 more like you." But the request was approved. I was honorably discharged, packed up the family, and headed to my new job in California. When I got there, I called them up. "Oh, we're going out of business. We can't hire you." "Um ... God? That was a dirty trick." So I started searching. I saw an ad for a company and applied. In the interview they asked where I heard of them. I told them about the ad. "We didn't put an ad in the paper." Seriously. But they hired me. And waived the standard 90-day probation period. My benefits went into effect the day after my military benefits expired. And the job was wonderful.
God blessed in the intervening years, but the surprising sequence of events served again to boldly declare that God was still at work while I was suggesting it was a "dirty trick." There never was an explanation of how my request for discharge got approved or where the ad came from. Well ... a human explanation. Another footprint of God in my life.
1 comment:
This incident in your life (which you have related before) is quite remarkable, when considered in full after the fact--especially in light of all of the mixed messages and missteps committed by others who you assumed (rightly so) were trustworthy. However, it should not amaze us that God is able to work His will and provide a favorable outcome for His children even in the midst of human foibles and gaffes--for He does all His work on earth through highly imperfect people! In keeping with your “Footprints” theme, you might think of this incident as one where God tells you, “Hold tight to my Hand as we walk on here; things will get a bit bumpy for a bit. You must trust Me that something good is afoot and that I’ll bring you through the process safely.” (I’ve had a few times on my journey like that, too, and I’m sure there will be more ahead.)
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