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Career opportunities that truly bless aren't always obvious at the start.
I have been thinking lately about the work transitions I have had that have been most meaningful. And the most interesting thing about each of them — the common denominator actually — is that they were (initially) unplanned, unappealing and unwanted. But they each turned out to be the best experience (at that stage in my life) and the most rewarding.
Here’s another common denominator: these experiences required me to dig deep into my spiritual study and development in order to overcome the many challenges. What comes first, the challenge or the deep study? I kind of think it is like a metaphorical staircase where the study to find peace in a particular challenge actually prepares you for a bigger, ummm, opportunity.
My favorite spiritual author, Mary Eddy Baker , writes in a sermon “…Heaven’s favors are formidable: they are calls to higher duties, not discharge from care…”
I remember reading this several years ago and thinking “Huh?! You mean there is no break, no relief, no coasting?” When I finally realized that the whole point of living is to understand who God is and my relationship with Him (my spiritual development), then I changed my thinking. I didn’t WANT a break from that or coast into placid, calm waters that weren’t taking me anywhere.
One of my biggest challenges was getting involved in web development well before few people really knew what the web was all about. This was in the days when it took a LOT of money and newly-formed expertise to get a website going. We gave it our best shot, but it was uphill all the way. I prayed for spiritual guidance constantly — and many of my prayers were, “Please God take me out of this! I don’t want to do it anymore!”
I listened every day for spiritual ideas, which did come. None of them, by the way, were even remotely related to “You are out of here!”. In fact, the ideas were leading me into more web work. I learned more as everyone in the field was learning. And gently, gently, I was led into new career opportunities that incorporated everything I had learned in my whole career to that point: Advertising, Marketing, Web.
Then, out of the blue, I was offered a job on the East Coast. Not just any job…it was for an organization and mission that I am totally committed to.
Oh no! I thought…I had just reached the point of (what I thought was) life perfection: great job in San Francisco, great place to live, great life. I knew there was no choice but to take it — to leave everything I thought was happiness. But a wonderful thing happened: as I prayed for peace about this decision, I heard an “angel message”: The God who gave you all this happiness here in San Francisco has even more happiness for you in store. Why would the experience be anything less? Of course.
After several months it was so clear to me that this move and this work was what I had been preparing for all my life. And then an even more wonderful thing happened. I was asked to develop a website on spirituality, a virtual gathering place for all readers of Science and Health to share ideas, evidence of healing, and questions of each other.
Oh! NOW I knew why I was needed to learn about web development…to prepare for this incredibly enriching work. This web work was better than anything I had imagined before…because it blessed so many people around the world.
Now I am praying about another opportunity…another challenge that I am not rushing toward :-). But I have to be firm in knowing that everything I do is about God’s business, His will, which is to love Him with all my heart…and to love and serve my fellow man.
I was reading a Bible verse today from I Corinthians:
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
The Message Bible interprets this passage like this:
God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit.
All good and positive activity is in God’s kingdom and is blessed by Him. So, whatever I do when my motive is to do good for my fellow man, God directs. Happiness must come with this.
Read more from this blogger at Practical Spirituality .
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