My New Job

Recently, I found myself making a serious decision about my employment. After 10 years supporting a construction accounting software package for a worldwide billion dollar corporation, I was led to leave my comfortable position and move in a new direction. Where I was making a decent living and doing my job at an acceptable level, I could see where in time I would not be able to maintain the level of integrity I seek for my life. In my experience, once a man compromises in one area of his life, it is not too long before other areas of his life begin to suffer and fall…like dominoes.

For the last 10 years, I took great pride in my ability to maintain my performance to either “Meet Expectations” or “Exceeds Expectations”. It was becoming almost effortless to score over 90% customer satisfaction scores on performance surveys, and there has always been a little bit of an ego connected to that score. From ego, it is a short trip to entitlement and I have always found it difficult to deal with a person who conducts himself with an attitude of entitlement…and this was the man I was becoming. For the last 2 years I have stayed at my job for the money and no other reason. I was convinced that I was doing what I need to provide for my home, family and community.

I started my support career with this software in November 2001 at a local call center here in Tucson, Arizona. The summer of 2006, this software package was sold to a corporation located in Portland, Oregon and I was offered the opportunity to continue in my position as a support analyst as a remote employee. On October 16th, 2006 I transitioned to a work from home position. Over the last 5 years I have been blessed to find the woman God made for me, a home where we can build a life, and a calling to serve our community. This past year has been rough as I started to see the edges of a plan God has me. It was rough because I started holding on tighter to the things I thought were making me a good man: He made it very clear that I was trying to control my life by holding onto the ‘Big Money’ job.

This past Fall, Kristina and I attended ‘Financial Peace University’ by the grace of God, because we we’re originally going to pass because we could not afford it. Our tuition was gifted to us and a kit arrived on our door with an invitation to change our lives. We are still working out the details of becoming debt free but the end is in sight, a very cool feeling to have. What we learned (or relearned) was how to create and use a budget to see how we are spending, and this was some much needed knowledge that contributed to our decision. God made it possible for me to see what I really needed to provide for the home and family He has blessed me with.

Over the last 12 months I have struggled to do my job with a joyful heart. I would always take care of the customer and was able to maintain customer satisfaction above the minimum required score. I have always had a heart to serve the customer calling for help, where I struggled most was serving the company I worked for in the ways they request. I was missing deadlines for several things I should have been doing as part of my job. I was not using the tools provided to the level I should to ensure they were valid for other analysts. I had no joy in my heart for what I was doing and was beginning to slip into an area where I did the minimum required to keep my job.

The true test on my heart came from Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”: I was working for my own selfishness and to maintain the illusion of control. Working from home, I had very little opportunity to interact with anybody and I was beyond ready to be out of the house doing whatever came my way, and when we started asking for a way out it was provided. The job offer had been talked about for quite some time before it actually came, but I was encouraged to be patient and wait as I was confident that it would happen (Colossians 1:11 - May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy).

The offer which came offered the opportunity to use all of my skills and talents in a similar capacity. It gives me the opportunity to not make it about the money but the job, which I am very excited about. I have a vague idea of what I will be doing, only as much as conversation and job description will allow. I will be given the opportunity to learn new skills and improve the ones I have.

A dear friend of mine who is a pastor at a local church here in Tucson has said many times in his sermons “What if you are working exactly where God wants you to be” or something to that effect. It might well be what I heard and not what he said, but the message was good so I held onto it. The message was related to the life we live as Christians and the witness we are to those we work with. I do not feel I was a good witness because the only interaction I had on a daily basis was with our 2 dogs. How can I be the light on a hill if I am under the basket of my own home? I get out after work and move through the community, but I do not want to be a part time Christian.

It is now midnight and I am tired.  I am not going to proof read this, so please give grace for any errors or ramblings. I am not here to impress or entertain, I am here to share what is keeping me awake tonight. This is only part of what is happening in my life right now, but the other part(s) will have to wait for another night.

In Christ,

Wayne

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