Yesterday when I clicked ‘publish’ on this blog, I got a notification that I had just published my 50th post. Whoa. I did something for fifty days in a row. More or less. I think I missed a couple of days in all this transition, but nevertheless, I have posted 50 times!
And guess, what? I like it! Blogging has been, during this transition, a connection to those outside of my little house by the river, a way to ensure that I process my daily Bible reading, a log of my life, and a replacement for therapy. Some of you have said that you enjoy it, too. So, thanks for going on this journey with me. I hope it will continue for however long it is supposed to.
I wish I knew how to translate this into a career, but each day I wake up and think I won’t have anything else to say. That day is coming! Also, it’s kind of precious to me that we have embarked on this journey for the pure sake of the journey. I’d hate to commercialize it. I keep hearing Holden Caulfield in my head.
So, in the next little bit, I am going to share with you some of the ideas I have for what is next. I am enjoying, as I often say, being a kept woman. However, we are young, we have bills to pay and a retirement to plan for. I do plan to re-enter the work force. I just don’t know what it will look like. So, let’s start with a brainstorm of possibilities.
- Apply for the PhD program in English and Education at the University of Michigan…I am fascinated by how the language of our homes impacts our access to education. U of M has an excellent program that would support my interest. Pros: Extremely close to home, super interesting, paid position Cons: Wolverines, highly selective program (I may not get in), not sure I’ve got the physical/mental steam to do a PhD, demanding schedule, less flexibility
- Apply to teach English Composition at Washtenaw Community College as an adjunct…the reason I got my Master’s degree was so that I could teach college composition. I did that at Jackson Community College before we moved and at St. Charles Community College after we moved. I also taught college composition at Lutheran North. Pros: Extremely close to home, working in my expertise, paid position, discount on health club membership (!), high likelihood that I would be hired Cons: The stack
- Apply for a totally different position — not related to English or writing at all — just a way to meet people and get fodder for my writing. I imagine a coffee house (though it’s difficult for me to be on my feet all day), or a bookstore, or a library…Pros: low stress, no stack, meet people outside our circle, can walk away at any time Cons: lower pay, not using my expertise, potentially more physically demanding
- Apply for an airport job. This sounds crazy, but I was talking with an old friend who works there and my brain screamed — “free flights!!” Our kids are in four different states and we are about to have a grandbaby. I don’t know what in the world I would do at an airport, but “free flights!!” Pros: free flights! paid position Cons: twenty minute drive to work, stress, physically demanding?
- Then there are all the free-lance things I could do: writing, tutoring, editing, consulting, etc. Pros: totally my schedule Cons: totally my schedule, running my own business, keeping records, yuck.
It’s September 9, 2014. The earliest I plan to work is January 9, 2014. I have four months left to be still. I am almost expecting that God will place the perfect opportunity in front of me, that I will know it is from Him, and I will say out loud, “You had this planned the whole time!” But the doer inside of me is nagging me to complete the application to the PhD program that I started last year at this time. The doer keeps going to online job postings.
Sigh.
Today, I am going to be still. And pray. And enjoy this grace period. January will be here soon enough.
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
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