04 August 2009

You go before me....


Today marks the one year anniversary since I left my former job and began on my own. I remember walking out of the office door that last time wondering what the heck I was going to do, where I would end up, and what we would do to pay bills. Then I remember waking up that following Monday morning, August 4th, stealing away early in the morning for a run around the block then watching the sun rise over the new day with coffee in hand on the back porch. Still unsure of what awaited but relaxing from the weight of a giant burden lifted from my shoulders. Man, did I need out.

Leaving wasn't necessarily easy, but it was necessary. Two projects that were like my kids, a museum expansion and depot restoration, were just about to start construction. The museum expansion specifically was born out of an idea that originated with me and I followed it through the procurement of a grant and finally to design and construction stage....a four year process. It's difficult to walk away from that. It is more difficult to be in a position God doesn't want you to be in.

Within a few hours of watching the sun rise on the 4th, I began scratching out a business plan. Because that's what you do, right? Maybe you do that before you actually leave your job, but it's still a requirement. Then, as work began to come in without me actually enacting the business plan, I realized that once work slowed down the plan would take center-stage. Then came the offers from folks who wanted to finance me, three in all. That was pretty humbling. The one was ready to set me up with an office and staff to compete for work around the state. Tempting.

But something in the back of my head was saying "just trust me". So, despite what has been rumored in river city, no one has given me a cent. Clients have called because of connections or word of mouth....and they've been the best people to work for. In fact, our family visited with one in Elkhart just the other night as she insisted giving the kids a tour of her gardens. It has been the client relationship I have found most rewarding.....well, that and working in my pajamas some days.

Work is worth waking up for....I love what I do and the folks I work with. And the funny thing is that I think God knew this all along.....and He went before me. He was just waiting for me to catch up. Many have said that it took a great deal of faith to go out on my own.....frankly, I had every excuse not to and it literally came down to the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.....not sure that that is faith.

But now I look back at the past year and see how God has continued to provide and it creates something entirely new in me. It is the realization that God's got my back....that we'll be ok despite what people throw at us. Despite the crookedness of the political and business realms, despite those who want to do harm........God has plans to bless. And since the "impossible" has been granted by God in business, it makes other impossibilities I often cite as excuses seem much more plausible, in politics and in spiritual possibilities in river city. That makes for a dangerous foe, methinks.

I don't know how long God plans for me to be in this position. I fully acknowledge it is by His providence....and if circumstances change I know that He will still be there. It is a strange thing indeed to have the feeling that there is nothing to lose but everything to gain when trusting God. People say this, but few experience it. Life is good.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lets talk about your new poll...are under the misconception that you would be paying less in total? This adjustment was merely a shift of taxes from Real Estate to Sales Tax. The ones who made out are the few who are house rich and who at the stage in their lives where they are consuming very little in the way of new goods.

hoosier reborn said...

yeah, the poll isn't for dummies...you have to think about this one. Now, according to trending I am already paying at the same level I was paying before restructuring. Add sales tax to that and we are paying considerably more. Not to mention we are paying considerably more on our rental...which I get, this isn't about that. The perception, however, as sold by politicians, is that everyone is paying so much less. Add in an increase in certain user fees also due to the restructuring and you're right, it is a "shift" sold as a decrease!

Chad yaden said...

I believe I have read enough my friend, in just the first paragraph I read that you quit your job and upon wandering how to support your family you went running around lifting and stealing, and all this before sunrise. Sickening go back and read for yourself every word is there!

hoosier reborn said...

Chad-
you'd be right except that we live in the poor white district as determined by school redistricting. Nothing to lift here

Anonymous said...

HR....now that really upsets me! Your kids go to the newest school with one of the most driven administrators. You really need to examine your thoughts buddy. The reason the redistricting was done the way it was is quite simple. You choose to live where and how you do...there are a hell of a lot of people who have no choice. Are you getting some kind of sick pleasure out of this kind of whinning? Still your friend Wingman!

Ode to a Truck

Wednesday, I took my travel companion on its last trip, from which it didn't come home with me. I took it for a drive the day before, to...