Budge Up!!
I want to sit down next to YOU
Back in April Rev Robert Channon was talking about our duty to witness the work of the lord, and as a church to go out and make disciples; in such a way that the Locking Castle Community will know we are Christians through the love we show.
The bit that hit home on that day was Roberts reminder of witnessing and especially when God had done some amazing things. I was thinking at the same time what wonderful things God had done for me, and what incredible changes he had helped me make, in particular during the last 6 months. My life had really been turned on its head and as a result it was becoming clearer that God had some important plans for me and my family.
For years I had worked in retail superstores. In fact I went into college at 16 wanting to be a teacher, I ended up quitting half way through to go and work at Texas Homecare. I then stayed in retail for 14 years gradually working my way up the ladders of Do It All, Focus DIY and then lastly PC World. For those of you that have worked in retail, like many other jobs the further you go up the ladder the more demand is put upon you and the more your work life balance swings towards the work and little is left for your life.
Family often came second and church often came after that. Towards the end of last year God was really starting to bug me. It was like someone inside me kept saying your not going to church Jeremy!!! and when did you last pick up my book. I kept coming back with excuses like I got too much on, I need to work late or Ive got to go into work on Sunday.
What I didnt realise was that for every rejection I made in front of God, God was making little changes. Changes that would make it easier for me to get things right.
It started with strength. What I mean by that is I needed to commit more time to God in prayer but also in church and although prayer can be any time any place, my spiritual growth couldnt take place unless church was on the agenda. I know for a fact God gave me the strength to say I wont work Sundays. It doesnt sound like a lot but opting out of Sundays in a big retail company was like walking up to your boss and saying you dont want a career any more. It was a big deal and in particular for me it was all I had known since leaving college. I had spent years and years investing my time in retail businesses and getting a lot out of it, but now it had come to a stumbling block. God actually wanted me to give up Sundays for him. But like I said, he gave me the strength, because I know now he had something planned for me.
In this modern fast paced world we often forget how important spiritual growth is. The momentum of this world keeps us on a conveyer belt through life with no stop button, and with no time to have a chat with God. If you just accept that God is there for you, he will give you the strength to just step off and take time out for him.
So during November time last year I told my management team at PC World that I would be quitting Sundays. With the majority of the team it went down ok, in fact easier than I thought it would. But that wasnt enough God still had more changes in store.
I think it was the final liberating decision about Sundays that led me to think that I could do something about my work life balance. More time with my family was very important because I knew that not only the church but my wife and kids provide me with spiritual growth in a way that is supportive and inspiring.
One evening I was looking on the internet and came across the Grocer Jobs Internet Site. The grocer is a big recruitment magazine that can be purchased off the shelf and it is used by almost all sales and retail businesses looking for new people. I have never ever purchased the grocer and never logged on to their website. Strictly my experience has never been in sales directly (i.e. face to face selling) it has always been in shop keeping and retail trading, so again I knew it was God that was pushing me in this direction.
The website has a way of searching for jobs, you put in your industry sector and where you live and then hit search. I flicked through the first couple of pages and then found a job that caught my eye. It caught my eye because it was something that initially didnt fit my experience but I had a gut feeling to pursue it. The job was working for a childrens charity, Monday to Friday. I sent off an application with my CV and amazingly got an interview.
The interview was held in Northampton on a Friday, at the end of a week that was so hectic and manic (if you can ever imagine what PC World is like coming up to Christmas), the last thing I was actually thinking about was this interview. I got to the interview having not done any preparation and my mind was just not focused on it at all. Waiting outside the interview room at the Hilton Hotel, Northampton gave me a few precious minutes to think things through about the job. In those few minutes I realised that I really wanted the job, but my stomach was turning over and over, because I knew I wasnt at my best. My nerves were taking control, my heart was racing and I wasnt thinking straight. I was putting too much pressure on myself, because I suddenly realised I really really wanted the job.
I got through the interview in about 40 minutes and walked out thinking I had given the worst interview of my life. I didnt answer any of the questions well enough. I didnt come across confident or convincing. I was expecting the phone call pretty quickly .
3 days later I had a call from the lady that interviewed me. She asked whether I was still interested in the post and whether I would like to join the charity. It was any amazing feeling. I wanted to jump up and down however I dont think that would have gone down too well at the PC World conference I was attending.
I started my new job in January and since then I have been able to commit far more time to my family and church life. It has been a breath of fresh air for me.
I know God was sat with me while I was looking through that job internet site and I know God was sat in the interview room. It fills me with such strength and warmth when I think about the fact that God is so close. It is easy for us to think of God as being all around us, but to think that he is sitting next to you, or holding your hand or even carrying you, this is sometimes forgotten. It is amazing to see God work so clearly in your life.
Romans 8:31-32
To God Be the Glory!! He is really working in your life.
