Vice Versa

My title can pretty much sum up what I have learned to realize about our God, well at least in my case. I've come to grasp that God loves to do the opposite of my personal desires.

Take my employment history for example, the very first job I got was working in an industry I didn't want to work in, in fear that I would always be eating due to the perks of being employed, yes, the food industry. Ironically, out of all the places I applied, only a cafe` called back and being fifteen, I was overjoyed to be considered and have the chance for an interview (and even got hired during my interview), let alone struggle with the idea of handling food and cleaning and frequently eating etc. A year after, I quit because I felt God telling me to move on, so after a while I started job hunting, and guess what, my next job was ALSO in the food industry, but this time, I had only applied for cafes' and such as my resume was lacking in experience, so any job is better than no job. As much as I had wanted to work at Three Bananas Cafe when I started, three months after, I dreaded it because I had to work Sunday afternoons, and due to church and school commitments (I was in grade twelve) I resigned.

This brings me to my most recent employments. Last year, I applied absolutely everywhere. I really wanted to find a job in the retail industry as it would be applicable to what I'm studying in school. I never ever wanted to be a cashier because it be so tiring and boring to stand for hours, scanning items after items. I didn't even want to apply at Shoppers, but my friend did, so I followed. Yet, God did just the opposite of what I wanted, I got a call from Shoppers Drug Mart, and got hired during my interview again. I really disliked this job from day one, but I stucked with it, and ended up staying there over a year. It so happens that the day I got hired, I had got phone calls from actual RETAIL stores that night. I was in a huge debate, I still remember wrestling with all these opportunities in my head and I ended up turning down interviews that might not be a success? Why take the chance when I'm already hired and am getting paid a satisfactory salary? I didn't know what God had in mind, and I couldn't make up a decision, but looking back, I see shoppers as a stepping stone, so I guess it wasn't that bad of a job now that I reflect on it.

After quitting shoppers and finishing my three week spring course, I was extremely motivated and deteremined to find a job before I leave for my trip. I wanted a job that was definitely in the fashion industry because I yearned for retail experience, I wanted to work with an older age group, not teenagers or tweens, more like moms or working ladies who had disposable income, I wanted to be able to dress up and not wear a crappy uniform that got holes in it after the first wash and most of all, I wanted it to be location friendly: convenient and close because I didn't want to waste time bussing for an hour when I could've been working during the duration of my transportation.

Okay, so despite having a confident interview at H&M after being called the day after I had applied online, God didn't give me that job. I was very disappointed.I ended up landing a job pretty much during my next interview. This job met all the requirements that I had in mind, and more, the department manager is so nice and so flexible with my schedule and would allow me to get off earlier on weeknights, acknowledging that I live in the North side. So the only problem was obviously the location, nothing is ever perfect. So I took the job, but once I took the job, I got calls, calls from CLOSER and MORE convenient retailers, I got calls more and more frequently, opportunities that would possibly cut my travel time by more than half. I was flusterred these past few days because I'm already indecisive enough, so why did God give me a job that met my criteria, and yet, kept opening these doors, potentially better? I wouldn't have known the result of these jobs, but after inquiring friends and family, I stucked with the job I got during my second interview. Most of all, I reflected back on my experience regarding the day I got hired by Shoppers and how what I was going through, seemed to be repeating history.

Though I complain the distance is far, in reality, its not that bad, just a tad farther than my trip to school everyday. I don't know what card God is playing or what he is going to teach me through this current employment opportunity, but I'm already seeing signs. I met a young lady whose a Christian, and another today whose Catholic and its just a bonus to be working with others of the same faith. There's also another girl whose the same age as me and in my program (and I thought my program was small enough to know everyone-guess not). He's also providing, and despite getting off work late, I managed to make the train in the nick of time and only in God's timing would I bump into a friend who happened to get off school early and be able to hitch a ride (thankYOU!).

I can't read God, but he can read me, so I am sticking to blind faith. God has never let me down, and dissecting previous incidents, I recognize His work in my life and how a piece from a few months ago and a piece from now can fall together so wonderfully-only through Him can such be done, so I know this time won't be any different. I should stop 'what ifs' in my head. Jeremiah 29:11


Life must be lived forwards, but it can only be understood backwards

P.S. I work at The Bay Southgate: Ladies Footwear
P.S.S. This post wasn't all that interesting (actually, it may have even been LONG & boring), but if you made it to here, thanks for listening to my semi resume!