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One year ago this week, I was abruptly left unemployed - with scores of other people I knew and didn’t know, folks around me and folks across the globe I’ll never meet.
It was heartbreaking for me and my family and very much felt like mourning the death of a loved one.
It was heartbreaking for me and my family and very much felt like mourning the death of a loved one.
It meant: the loss of my first teaching job, which was scary b/c they’re very hard to come by; the loss of our church family, where my wife was flourishing in the use of her gifts; loss of friends; loss of students I had invested so much in and loved. It was gut wrenching.
But
But
I’ve never felt so loved by friends and even acquaintances. People came out of the woodwork encouraging and supporting us. I remember feeling so undeserving of the love shown to me and my family. A brief and inadequate catalog of some kindnesses shown to us:
Mentors like @DrJTPennington came over and just cried with us (I could spend all day recounting that man’s mercies). Pastors (like @kevinjamison) ministered to us. Other friends tried to get me a job ( @M_Y_Emerson, @brandon_d_smith, @bryanbaise).
Still other friends would just listen whole I processed grief, and distract me with theology ( @timothyrbaylor, @JordanHillebert). Or make sure I spent enough time laughing ( @chsmith_jr, @KodyGibby).
Others enlisted themselves to help in any way they could - and meant it, writing recommendations and showing generosity ( @andrewhebert86 & more). Others would call and text, encouraging me in my vocation and my faith ( @jeremypierre, @Dom_S_Hernandez, more).
Folks whom I barely know, like Kelly Kapic (an OG), were ministering to me pastorally. Others - too many to name - encouraged and prayed for us. Strangers would buy us groceries, since we were spending what little money we had fixing our home up just enough to sell it.
We had no idea what God would do with us. I was thinking my teaching days were perhaps over. I spent my days applying to jobs and renovating the house, when I wasn’t just numb with grief.
But God worked it all out for good. Looking back, I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone. It’s not the worst experience one can have. But it’s not a cakewalk.
We can see God’s providence in it, though. One day late in June, @JamieKDew called me out of the blue and shared his passion and vision for New Orleans - the city and its Baptist seminary.
It wasn’t long before we found ourselves, by God’s grace, packing our bags.
All week long my wife and I have been talking about how blessed we are to be *here* - not just anywhere, but here. I can’t explain why, but we’re deeply happy and full of hope.
All week long my wife and I have been talking about how blessed we are to be *here* - not just anywhere, but here. I can’t explain why, but we’re deeply happy and full of hope.
Our plates are full (with lots of great food), but our hearts overflowing. I can’t say I’d ever wish for an experience like last year. But I can say I’m grateful for what it brought us.
We’re so glad to be here @NOBTS and with our church home here, and to be one small part of what God will do with this school and city in the decades to come. After all, we are firm believers in prayer and providence!
FYI: worst part of this thread is all the people I don’t mention. There were many, many more.
