M.E. - End Of An Era

An era - a period marked by distinctive character. On August 1, 2005 an era came to an end for me, I was laid off from a company that I had been with for 11years. A new VP had been brought in for the purpose of bringing change and he decided that anyone that worked in Marketing who didn’t have a Marketing degree was not good enough. So there were seven of us in that category. Even though I had 5 years of experience as a Product Marketing Manger I wasn’t qualified purely because I have an engineering degree and not a marketing degree.

When I was told the word "transition" came to me. Transition - A change from one state to another. I needed to transition from my confidence in who I thought I was at work, to who I am in the Lord. Transition - characterized by strong contractions - I guess that is the best way to describe it - strong contractions that will yield a new birth, a new vision, a new level of faith, a new trust in the Lord. Transition - from one of being in bondage to my job to one of liberty in the Lord.

The last time I had a month off was June 1975 - thirty years ago - when I finished college and before I started my 1st professional job. I took a month off to mark the transition from student to professional. I sailed, I swam at the beach, I played my guitar. It was a wonderful time as I look back on it. It was a major transition time in my life. Not only did I leave college and what I had known for the last five years, but also I moved to a new state where I knew no one. I moved to a place were I finally reached the end of myself and had to reach out for something bigger than myself. Someone I could trust to lead me and carry me when I wasn't able to do it on my own. It was after that transition that I reached out to the Savior and accepted Jesus.

Now, fast-forward 30 years and it is another time for a month off (actually turned out to be 4 months), I played golf, I sat with a friend under the shade tree and drank tea. Another time of transition, but this time it was different, I knew Jesus as Master, as my Lord and as my Friend. I had the Father God to love and protect me. I had the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me. Just like a switchback on a mountain trail, I have been climbing, climbing, climbing all the while heading in one direction, but now to continue to climb higher I needed to make a drastic turn or the climb would be too steep and I wouldn't make it. The switchback is necessary to keep my footing on the climb upward.

During that time of transition my prayer was that I would stay focused on the Lord and what He wants for me. He has proven Himself more faithful than I could have ever believed. Transitions are never painless but once you get through them it is always an improvement.

One of the most bizarre events in the lay off process was that on the day that the official announcement was made public to the rest of the company that I would be leaving, I received a performance raise and my severance package was based on my new salary.


Next M.E. – Health Opportunity.