Notice anything unique or special?

Maybe this will make it more clear....(click on pic to see if needed)

I got called back for a 2^nd job interview; it’s scheduled for this coming Monday.  Opportunity is ideal – enrollment advising (working with actual students, not recruitment, lots of fun organizing, planning, and teaching) and Christian environment.  Campus is beautiful, but location is not ideal.  Pay is still up in the air – range is very wide and if their offer lands on the low end, I’ll have to decide whether or not it’s still worth it in order to get the work experience I’ve been looking for.  And what would be reasonable?

For those who don’t know, I’ll give a brief update.  Resigned from my previous job as a mental health therapist, seriously reconsidering career direction and have interest in exploring field of academic advising.  Currently working P/T near home and looking for F/T employment.  Love the free time and relaxation and doing very domestic things around the house. =)

Back to this job opening…it is at Cal Baptist University in…Riverside.  Riverside, ugh.  I prayed and talked with E before I applied – would I be willing to relocate for this job?  Ok, I can be open to it…maybe.  Got interview – completed.  Got 2^nd interview – pending.  And during this time I’ve been struggling back and forth with whether or not I want this position to go through.  Facing fears of living on my own away from people I know, I asked all the “What if” questions possible and went through a ton of worst-case scenarios.  Hrm…Am I really open to the idea of moving or not?  I looked up various apt. complexes (mainly in Corona) and was shocked by the number of bad reviews.  I was scared to get the job yet didn’t want to face the disappointment of not getting it.  The huge change moving would create made me (and still makes me) super nervous.  Yet if God provides this job opportunity for me, could I trust Him to provide a safe place for me to live too? 

This whole process has been a lesson (once again) in my need to let go and trust in God.  And He has been faithful in answering prayer.  I woke up yesterday feeling more at peace with either prospects. 

If I get the job and I accept (some logistics still need to be defined – e.g. salary), my plan is to rent a room in a city/location closer to people I know.  I rather drive farther to work and live with the comfort of knowing I have friends nearby who I can turn to if needed.  In addition, renting a room means I will be living with others so I won’t be all alone either.  I feel much more comfortable with this plan than renting an apt. by myself (plus it’s cheaper and often comes semi-furnished =P).  Initially, I wanted to rent an apt. b/c I worried about what could happen living with strangers.  So worried about living with strangers and worried about living on my own – can’t win!  Now it’s about trusting that God will provide a safe place for me to live and good people to live with.  There has to be good people out there in this world!  Need to learn to let go and take some of these “risks” in life.  I still battle with a lot of “What ifs” but I’m thankful that the overwhelming confusing stress has simmered down.  On the flip side, I’ve accepted that if I don’t get the job, then that’s ok too.  Let go of any disappointments and trust in God’s provisions.  Besides, living at home is super duper swell! J

I feel that everything that has transpired in relation to this one job application process has been a big lesson already.  I used to comment how much I hated inland and how I would never ever live out that way.  Reflecting, perhaps this is God’s way of giving me something unexpected and waiting to see whether or not I’d be willing to go where I didn’t want to go.  Not only in terms of geographical location, but also in terms of growth and independence.  Let go of expectations, let go of the familiar, and trust in God’s guidance and plan.  I will probably find out by the end of next week….whether I continue what I’ve been doing so far or step out and face a humongous change.

Given all that I’ve said about letting go and trusting…I’m still nervous at what the future may bring.  Teehee.  God’s grace is sufficient.  =)  Thank goodness for that!