Today I began training my replacement for the job that I have done for most of the last eight years. Training my replacement is not a new occurrence for me…I’ve done it every time I voluntarily left a job. (Yes, that means there were some jobs I left involuntarily!) What’s new about this experience is that I am not leaving to go to another job. Every time I’ve left a place of employment without another one around the corner, I’ve been SCARED. This seems like a logical response – Getting fired is frequently likened to falling off a tightrope without a safety net. Hmm…I guess that means that what I’m doing now is JUMPING off the tightrope! An act of insanity at best!
Imagine the nation of Israel having an expatriate return after 40 years of voluntary exile, perform a bunch of spectacular signs and then declare, “It’s time to go!” How would you react? Indentured servitude is all you and your ancestors have known for 400 years! Life isn’t…terrible here. As long as you play by the rules – don’t make waves – don’t get out of line – do what you’re told – when you’re told – where you’re told – how you’re told. Plenty to eat. Games for the kids to play. A certain job when they get older.
Security.
Here’s life for most of us today (My thanks to Rhea Perry and Javadawn for this): Get up, eat, go to work, come home, eat, watch tv, go to bed. Tomorrow: Get up, eat, go to work, come home, eat, watch tv, go to bed. The next day: Ditto.
Security.
Here’s a day in my factory: A buzzer goes off telling us when to start work, another telling us when to take a break, another telling us when to eat lunch, another telling us when to go home.
Security.
Here’s life at a penitentiary: A buzzer goes off telling the inmates when to wake up, another when to eat, another when to get some exercise, another when to line up for inspection, another when to go to sleep.
Maximum security.
I’d like to think if I heard Moses issuing the clarion call, that I would boldly leap to my feet and rally my family and friends and all within earshot to follow me out of bondage and into the unknown.
Most likely, I would hesitate; remembering the taste of leeks and melons and cucumbers provided by the same bosses who rang the lunch buzzer and told me how many bricks to make today.
Security…. Darn it, I like leeks and melons and cucumbers!
But, no looking back today! Today I have begun the swan dive off the tightrope. No net, no harness, no guy wires.
What’s better than security?
Freedom!
4 Comments
June 19, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Sweetheart, I’m not quite certain how best to say this…but when your paycheck is a 73.68% cut (as it was last week) there ain’t too much security there.
June 19, 2007 at 5:15 pm
God bless you guys… and I say that with a huge grin! So nice to have found Dawn again… and now with a husband to read as well. Inspirational AND entertaining!!
by the way… my sister and her husband were just in Missouri for a Young Living conference… I think we are hooked. You guys do oils, right?
June 20, 2007 at 1:33 pm
HEY! ReneeGrace!!!
You are very optimistic….inspirational and entertaining….hmmm. Sounds like big shoes to fill.
Jeff is still doing his tightrope routine, so I’m commenting for him. It’s a wifely purogative.
and YESYESYES we do oils. We love them. We use them for all kinds of things – from cooking to cleaning and nearly everything else in between. If you’re not on a loop for those, email me and I’ll get you hooked up. There’s a lot of uses out there that you can glean from these loops! Mucho wisdomo.
I’m so glad you came by!
June 21, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Hey Babe, just thinking – in honor of your last day next week, we’re going to have melon, cukes and leeks in our salad.
N.O.T. M.U.C.H. L.O.N.G.E.R!!!