Cheryl Shares ~ March 2011

Misled by God?

It wasn’t a question I’d ever asked, but one chilly day at the beginning of February, I shivered, sighed and asked my husband who works in Information Technology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, if there were any job openings at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

Snickering, he shook his head and told me, "there haven’t been openings for years.”

Returning from work the next day, he changed his tune. “You’ll never believe this,” he said. “They just announced a job opening in Jacksonville TODAY.” He went on to call it his dream job, assuring me he was more than qualified.

We went to our knees with excitement. “Lord, if you want us to go for this, You’re going to have to give us a ton of clear-cut confirmations.”

And that's what He did.

Everywhere we went, people talked about Florida. It was so extraordinary, it got to be humorous.

Dwight and I were so convinced God was leading us to Florida that we put our house on the market before heading South for the interview. We reasoned, “If it doesn’t work out in Florida, and someone wants to buy our house, we could always move elsewhere in Rochester.”

Our prayer became, "God, if it’s not your will, if it’s not the best move for us or our children, please please please close the door and don’t let Dwight get the job.”

In Florida, God connected us with Winston, a sweet African-American Christian realtor. Winston was just what we needed. Not only did he tirelessly show us houses with the full knowledge that Dwight might not get the job; he also prayed and encouraged us every step of the way.

When we didn't hear the results of the interview immediately afterward like we'd hoped, we made a decision to stay positive and keep moving forward as if it was a go. Not only did we look into houses; we looked into Christian schools too. It was already registration time for the Fall; and if Dwight got the job, they'd want him to start immediately, so there was no time to waste.

We waited three long days for the news. It came with the ring of Dwight's cell phone. We had just stepped out of yet another house, and were bone-weary. I knew Dwight's heart was beating as fierce as mine, and Winston's probably was too; because the old man kept his gaze straight ahead through the windshield as we sat motionless in the driveway.

I finally looked at Dwight in the rear view mirror. My heart sunk when he finally muttered a bunch of “uh-hus” and “I sees.” Seeing me look at him, he curled down his lip. That was it. He didn’t get the job.

The questions fired in mocking procession. Should I feel like a fool? Where had we missed it? Had we gone ahead of God? Violated some Scripture perhaps?

It was a quiet ride back to the hotel. Humming softly, Winston was nothing but encouraging. It took only seconds before a peace swept in like the warmth of the sun. A tune of truth played in my head. “Rejoice for the steps of a righteous man, they are ordered of God.”

It wasn't until the Sunday we returned home and my husband was sharing in church that I was reminded of a series of Divine appointments God had given us, with one standing out in particular.

We met someone special in the Jacksonville Applebees. From the moment we saw her, our waitress told us she was normally a bartender, and that she was having the worst day in the world. Several people had arrived before us, but she got mixed up and gave us our food before theirs.

Uncomfortable, my husband offered to share our food with the older ladies at the next table. This led to a conversation about my book which led to Dwight giving them one of my poem cards:

In Tune

When you call me I will answer;
I will calm you to the quick.
I feel deep inside each flattening ache
that leaves your insides sick.

Since I made you in my power,
not one cell, synapse, or nerve,
not one groaning of your spirit
ever passes me unheard.

The next time our waitress was walking by, she stopped short in front of their table. “Where did you get this?” looking down at the card.

One of the ladies pointed to me. “She wrote it. ”

Not missing a beat, the waitress stepped over to me. “I need to give you a hug! You don’t know how much I needed this!” When she finally eased back from her embrace, tears streamed her face. “This poem touched me deeper than you'll ever know.”

After my husband shared the incident in church, our pastor said, “That's why you went to Florida. God confirmed it in my heart. It was for that bartender.”

Perhaps it was. As days unfold, we see even more reasons. Most of them are related to ministry opportunity and relationships here. The rest of the reasons we'll see in heaven. One thing is sure though, “God works ALL things together for good to those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.”

The grass might be greener on the other side of the country (and for a lot more months!), but our hearts are warmer when we're in the center of God's will, growing where we're planted ~ even if it's in ch-ch-chilly Minnesota.

Blessings to you!

Love Cheryl