Burning Light

October 27 2006

And now, here to present his own minority opinion....

Now that I've had a little time to whine, mourn and generally adjust, it's worth sharing the other half of the story -- if only because it's really easy to stop at the more dramatic and depressing stuff and yet not add, "but, HEY...."

So: But, HEY...

Out of the nearly two dozen people laid off at our company last week, many of them have already landed on their feet elsewhere. My former supervisor has already found another job (which he in fact interviewed for the day before being let go -- we did have some clue what was coming), and another friend from another department was just offered a position as a children's pastor in Tennessee (and already has bought a home there) -- a few weeks after sharing privately with me that that was really the desire of his heart (one of those God-moments I talked about a couple weeks back). Had he still had a job here to hang onto, obviously things might have played out a lot differently. I've heard other stories along those lines as well in the last week-and-a-half. God closes one door and opens another.

As for myself, I've been moved from Adult/Small-Group Resources to Curriculum. I still feel a little as if I was kicked down from varsity to JV, but considering that our curriculum gets an estimated million "touches" a year (vs. probably only tens of thousands on the adult/small-group side), perhaps I should just get over myself. It sounds like there's going to be some new initiatives to develop adult (i.e., Sunday School-type) curriculum in the near future, and adult editors is scarce in these here parts to begin with (how do you think I made it out here to start with?

And as my old position no longer exists (at least for the time being), I'm getting to see through the study I started developing -- can't give out names (intellectual property and all that), but the person whose work is being referenced (and being developed out into other products related to this study) is one that would be widely recognizable in Christian circles, so it promises to be a significant -- possibly even breakthrough -- resource. (Then can I have my old job back?

) I also get to keep the website I've been working on, for the foreseeable future (i.e., the previously mentioned smallgroupministry.com, where my smiling face and snarky review can still currently be found on the home page).

And speaking of new beginnings: Arriving at DIA TOMORROW is my brother-in-law, who's also escaping from Jersey to start over. He'll be living with us for at least the next few months, as he saves up to buy his own place. And again in the divine serendipity department -- the gentleman who runs the bible study here at our company that I've been going to for the past month (and which I was introduced to by the aforementioned impending children's pastor) is good friends with the owners of a company my brother-in-law was already inquiring into working at.

So again, maybe I should just wake up and smell the providence all around me.

Next week, back to music, hopefully. Weird Al, Keane and Beck... well, beck-on....

Posted by: burninglight at 22:22 | link | comments (9)

Comments:

#1 02 November 2006 - 17:01

Sounds good. Of course I wouldn't be me if I didn't suggest that those 'god moments' you mention could be coincidence at best or, at worst, the work of a devil in disguise. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad things are looking up, but I can't help but remember what happens to me every time I think all is well.
Yr Uncle Reality,
tim

timbyrnes

#2 02 November 2006 - 17:04

KEANE??!! KEANE??!! Oh, man, Jesus I get but KEANE???!!!!!!!

timbyrnes

#3 02 November 2006 - 17:10

Well, I haven't LISTENED to it yet, so you may be right. Andre gave them props, so I have to at least to pay heed. Of course, he thinks the new Lost Dogs album is wonderful too....

"Of course I wouldn't be me if I didn't suggest that those 'god moments' you mention could be coincidence at best or, at worst, the work of a devil in disguise."

Well of course you wouldn't be. And I wouldn't be me if I weren't hoping for better than that from you. :P

"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad things are looking up, but I can't help but remember what happens to me every time I think all is well."

Well, when y'r down, it's easier to look up.... and I was kinda down the week before....

burninglight

#4 03 November 2006 - 16:08

"Well of course you wouldn't be. And I wouldn't be me if I weren't hoping for better than that from you. :P"

What would be better than an honest opinion? It's not that I don't sympathize w/yr job problems - hell I can relate to 'em having recently been laid off w/no warning, severance or even a 'so long, buddy' and am now flipping burgers part time and fattening Buster up for Thanksgiving. Life is good 'cause I decide it is, not god.

Besides, if you need to supplement yr income maybe you can apply for Ted Haggard's job.

End of rant.
Hi, Carl!

timbyrnes

#5 03 November 2006 - 18:13

Yeah, yeah.... another fine example.... in a way, brings this post full-circle.... So many Haggards on the front page, so few Rick Vomackas.... yes, EXACTLY....

burninglight

#6 03 November 2006 - 18:19

Carl as Haggard??

Yep, he could be the president of NAE!

GO CARL.

Anonymous

#7 03 November 2006 - 18:26

Yeah, they'd LOVE me.... :P

burninglight

#8 06 November 2006 - 16:04

Carl we all love you. Really. Besides, except for the meth Haggard hasn't really done anything harmful (as far as I see it) besides setting a ridiculously high moral bar for himself and then ignoring it and, really folks, who amongst us etc?
tim

Anonymous

#9 06 November 2006 - 22:33

Yeah, but there must be truth to SOME of the sexual accusations against him...Haggard...not Carl.

Anonymous

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Posted by: burninglight at 22:22 | link | comments (9)