Fifty years ago today, at the tender age of twenty, I began working at Cornell College. Single and still living with my parents, it was a short two mile drive to campus. I was hired as a keypunch operator, although I had never in my life ever seen a keypunch machine. In fact, before she left, the woman I replaced told me they hired me because no one else would work for 2.02 an hour and someone in the Business Office put in a good word for me. Fair enough but however it came about … it was the beginning of the longest running relationship I would have (with any one or thing) over the next 44 years.
The years flew by. I had seven offices, numerous bosses, dozens of co-workers who became friends, and enough purple clothing to open a thrift shop. Personally, I had two husbands, three children… (then three more) and seven grandchildren. I lived in three houses, lost both my parents, belonged to three churches and was never more than six blocks from my kids during their school years.
Six years ago - a mere six and a half weeks short of my 44th year milestone, in 45 seconds - my job and time at Cornell came to an end. It was one of the most traumatizing moments of my life, like an unexpected death and it was brutal. But Life (as they say) Goes On. I had a total hip replacement the following month, drew unemployment and became a rideshare driver/food deliverer, which of course had some trauma of its own.
It was 18 months later when I heard a sermon illustration that completely changed my perspective. It compared our lives to a dot to dot picture in a child’s coloring book. Although it is unknown what the picture will eventually reveal, we trace from dot to dot until it is complete. If you miss a dot, it will affect the outcome. Every dot matters. Likewise in our humanity - we travel from dot to dot in life, navigating our journeys. Some dots are joyous, others disastrous, but it is ONLY when we are beyond the dot and look back at it, we can see a really wonderful dot would not have happened, had we not passed through a terrible one previously.
In the years after Cornell, I had several events of greater magnitude than losing a job, but rather than make a laundry list of difficult dots, I want to tell you why the 45 second dot was in time, deemed good. Only God knew what the dots ahead of me were going to bring… life altering dots of pain, fear, heartache and loss. Seasons when I would be needed by my family and those I loved…. To be available… to step up and be there for them. And I was… Every minute.
Make no mistake,I have been blessed with many wonderful dots in the last six years, especially retirement and more grandchildren! I admit I occasionally wonder about the purpose of some of my dots, although the 45 second one doesn’t faze me. I know it happened for my good.
So today, I celebrate the 50th anniversary of starting a job I loved, the relationships I enjoyed, the benefits and life lessons it taught me, and even its perfectly timed, abrupt ending.
As many people know, I am a Jesus loving, date remembering, picture taking, number nerd and I won't miss an opportunity to remind others: As long as we live, we will travel from dot to dot - some good, some difficult. Never presume to know the sole purpose of a dot. Walk by faith, not by sight because our vision is merely 20/20, whereas God’s vision is “50/20”. Genesis 50:20 “You planned to harm me but God planned it for good.”
Comments