So, a year ago, I began a journey of unemployment that lasted nine months. It should have been a more challenging moment in my life. I consciously choose to hope. I expected to land somewhere. I worked intentionally to seek goodness, to discern where God had a plan for my live. Despite having been given notice, I was giving notice to what was around me.
Seth Godin recently posted about what we miss when we are not looking
My friend Alan came over to dinner the other night. Unbeknownst to me, he had a few plastic scorpions in his pocket (a reminder of a recent adventure).
I saw a plastic scorpion on the bowl of nuts, but I didn’t see it, I just moved it aside and went ahead preparing dinner. A few minutes later, I saw a second plastic scorpion on the counter, but again, I didn’t actually see it, didn’t pause or consider it, I just moved on. It took until the third plastic scorpion before I said, “huh.”
This is one reason we feel the need to yell ‘surprise’ at a surprise party. Because we all have blinders on.
The people who are the very best at noticing what’s happening notice it because they’re looking.
“You can see a lot just by looking.”
Now, I find myself re-employed and having an awe-some time. No, really, it is exciting. I’m up every morning ready to go even if my old man bones groan in response to my enthusiasm. Part of this is due to an attitude of wonder surrounding new, even if familiar, experiences.
It would be so comfortable, being of a certain age, to just embrace memories and things of the past. But life is still fresh and new and filled with wonder and awe. Recently, the Pope preached that “The Christian life is not a museum of memories.” He warned that “to do as you’ve always done is an ‘alternative death.’ “The Holy Father concluded urging the faithful to “risk, with prayer, and then, with the humility, accepting what the Spirit asks us to change.” “This is the way,” the Pope said.
If you can possibly avoid it, don’t wait for a forced (and unpaid) “sabbatical” to gain this perspective.
