Thoughts on a new job, and hopefully an understandable parallel.

For any reader(s) who don't know, I've recently changed jobs.  I am still doing IT work, but in a totally different environment and industry.  I accepted a position with Beacon Tire in Russellville, AR for a job title that is yet unknown but for the purposes of this post it will be called "The IT Guy."  It had been 6 years since I changed jobs and I'd begun to think that it wasn't possible.  I had begun to believe that I was too set in my ways, unable to learn something new.  I will admit to a lot of anxiety regarding this new job in the weeks prior to starting. 

I have made a few observations about the changes this new job has brought about in me, and I believe I have found a good parallel.  The closest analogy that I've been able to come up with is that changing jobs is roughly equivalent to coming to know Christ.  At first it seems a bit unreal.  Every day is so different than all your previous days have ever been.  You have a new purpose, a new "job" to do.  You've switched sides, now you work for someone else.  You look back on your previous life, and wonder "Was that really me?" or "Is this really me?"  Your entire perception of yourself has been turned on its head. 

In the case of becoming a Christian, you have just been faced with the reality that God loves you, and wants to help you so that you can help others.  In the case of starting a new job, you now rely on a totally different organization, or group of people, for the monetary well being of yourself and your family.  Both are very significant changes!  The first week that I spent at Beacon, I found myself looking back at my old job a lot.  "Is this really a better life?"  "Is this really a better job?"  This shell shock I believe is normal with any large life changing event.  In this case it didn't take long to find purpose and fulfillment in my new job.  In the case of becoming a Christian, it may depend on your life circumstances.  In either case, change is inevitable, it must happen for you to be successful.  You may have to change a lot, or maybe just a little.  If I don't learn this job and this industry, I will not be successful.  Luckily I am surrounded by good people who know what I need to learn.  If you've just become a Christian you too must surround yourself with people who know Christ, so that they can help you to know Him better.  Believe me the Change is worth it.

Start with something simple

Once, long long ago I had a blog.  As I recall it was a pretty good one, at least by blogging standards of 7-8 years ago.  I'm sure the bar has been raised significantly since then.  Nevertheless, here goes nothing.  It is worth noting that I am typing at a disadvantage, as Wesley has seen fit to remove several keys from the keyboard of my laptop.

Tessa and I are moved into a new house, which just might be actually big enough.  As with any house there always seems to be something to fix.  One thing which I set to immediately was fixing the fluorescent light in the garage.  As most of our life still resides in boxes stationed in the garage, light becomes pretty important.  The bulbs flickered like a strobe light.  I went to Lowes and bought new bulbs.  The new bulbs didn't even flicker, didn't seem to do anything.  So, knowing a little bit about that sort of thing I form assumptions.  "Ah, must be a bad ballast.  So 40 dollars later I have a new ballast.  I install the ballast, flip the switch...and nothing happens.  "Weird" thought I.  Must be the lamp holders.  So after installing new lamp holders, I flip the switch.  Again, nothing.  "Hmm, maybe a bad switch."  New switch installed.  Flip new switch, (drumroll please)...nothing.  A few Google searches, wiring diagrams and pulled out hairs later, still no light.  Tessa, watching my frustrations grow to a fever pitch, makes an observation.  "Maybe one of the new bulbs is bad."  I almost dismiss the suggestion but at this point, I'm out of options.  I replace the new light bulb with the least burned out looking of the two "bad" bulbs and flip the switch.  "LET THERE BE LIGHT!"  A humbling experience to be sure.

A lesson to us all, especially us snarky IT know it all guys.  And this applies to more than just light bulbs and computers.  (Although before calling the IT guy stating that your computer doesn't work you should at least make sure it's plugged in.)  It applies to life as well.  Is someone you love having difficulty?  Maybe they just need someone to talk to, and maybe they just need you to listen, without trying to "solve" their problem.  Before you get all complicated, try thinking simple.