A season of learning - Part 2

I've learnt a few things whilst having time off about how I've reacted to retrenchment and the various aspects that result from it....

• Money permeates so many areas of our lives.  It not only affects how we survive in terms of shelter, clothing and food but also how we socialise and in some ways how we are generous with others.  It also can be attached to our status in society...there were times when I was afraid I wouldn't 'fit in' or 'belong' given I live amidst a community that is quite blessed and well off in many ways, if I needed to adjust to a simpler lifestyle long term.
• Retrenchment may be a common statistic but it happens to real people.  There were times when I was reminded that there were 'lots' of other people in the same situation - at times it was a good reminder to realise I wasn't alone in my struggles, but at other times it wasn't great when people unintentionally reduced me to a statistic! Not receiving responses from many job applications does effect your self esteem no matter how hard you do try to remember it isn't something personal.  It's made me evaluate who I am as a person within and not to measure myself so much on my worth in terms of my job or how much money I earn.  It's funny how we can so easily measure ourselves and others on things that really not as important as we think.
• For those who do experience retrenchment, I think it's important to lean on God and family and friends.  Retrenchment is in the top 4 most stressful things that can happen in life - including loss of a loved one, losing your home and divorce.  I was quite proud and didn't want people to think I couldn't handle things on my own.  But in the end it was a great help to be able to feel supported and cared for.
• Prayer support has been so essential in getting me through this time.  Friends prayed for me when I couldn't pray for myself.  I believe it's the answered prayers of many who have sustained me during times I really needed it.

A season of learning - Part 1

After some reflection and having finished my thoughts on the past several months, I decided it was a bit detailed and personal to publish all my thoughts in this space.  But I will still post on the main things that I wanted to share.

From the time I was retrenched I held onto the following verse in Jeremiah:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

It was not until I really gave things to God in prayer that I realised I had not followed through with the remaining verses:

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, …”  (Jeremiah 29:12-14)

A friend asked me how do you give something to God?

I think it's not just ‘trusting’ or rather expecting God to answer our prayers, it’s truly believing He knows best for us, being open to any answer He may have and handing this over to Him.  I guess God is open to us and we need to be open to Him and His calling in our lives.

A season of learning...

Well, today marks the one month anniversary of my contract job.  I can't believe it has been a month already.

I've been wanting to write a series on what I have been learning since I was retrenched in December 2008, so I think it's a good time to start the series before more months pass by.

Whilst I chose to take the first 3 months off especially over the Christmas and New Year period, it was always in my mind as to how I would cope emotionally, spiritually and mentally.  I knew if I were to be retrenched it was mainly going to be a season of learning to trust God with different parts of my life, ones that I hadn't covered or delved into more deeply before.

A psychologist once told me some of the most stressful things in life include losing a loved one, illness, not having a home and losing your job.  

For me, losing my job affected me in more ways than I had originally thought - spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically...the whole lot.

When I've spoken to old colleagues who were also retrenched, the word 'rollercoaster' comes up alot.  That's certainly what it has been for me - a rollercoaster of ups and downs and often times feeling like I have chronic PMS!  

A bit of sunshine

Made me smile