Until December, I spent a better part of the year working three jobs.
Third shift at a women's shelter, freelance writing, a shelver at a library, and teaching a class at a local college. (Yes, there is an inordinate amount of college instructors/adjuncts who often hold down more than one job because they are part time with inadequate pay and no benefits. But that's a whole other blog entirely)
Oh, and hosting a radio show once a week.
In December, I quit the shelter due to a health scare. Also in December, the contract for the college teaching job ended. Thus, I needed to find work.
Quickly.
So I applied for "easy" gigs, places that I thought I would have no problem getting hired.
Never worked retail before...but, I asked myself, "How hard can it be?" Wrong.
I was hired at a local big box store and I politely asked for a certain department because I was sure there would be low foot traffic there. Wrong again.
The nice ladies in personnel were only too happy to oblige my request. After all, I overheard them during our training say that they had no-shows left and right. It was the height of the holiday season, and they just needed warm bodies, at that point.
And I should have known when my department manager only asked me one question during the interview and then said, "Ok, you're good."
So after an inordinate amount of mind-numbing training, I found myself, at age 47 and with no prior retail experience, thrown to the wolves during the holiday season.
After one full day, I learned that working retail is not for the squeamish, nor the soft.
My back ached. My feet throbbed. My ample derriere was accustomed to seated office jobs--in no way was I ready for 8-hour days on my feet. Not to mention other associates informed me (regularly) that no one ever stays long in my assigned department because it's so chaotic.
Hang in there, my friends said. Put your big girl pants on, my mom said.
And my sister said with a bite: "You've got bills to pay."
So I went back, but after the first week, I made up my mind. "I'm out of here."
I wanted to scream.
How did I get here? I wanted to tell everyone I ran into, "I'm not like these other workers, I'm not cut for this! I'm not supposed to work retail! I am college educated! I have experience in an array of areas!"
Then I wanted to cry and went into full pity-party mode.
"Doesn't my expertise count for anything anymore? What's wrong with me?
Why can't I do what I want to do? Why can't I find a job that's in my purpose?"
Then a friend reminded me gently but firmly, "Teresa, you're not any better than anyone else."
That was a turning point for me.
I began observing the other associates. They were from all walks of life. Some looked as exhausted as I felt. Some looked like zombies, the walking dead. Others were chipper and seemed good with their job.
I decided I had to find a way to make the best of this. I prayed about how I could treat this job as a new challenge.
I asked the Lord to help me see this job with fresh spiritual eyes, to help me to be a light for Him in my department. How would I do that? By smiling, helping customers as best I could, and keeping any negative comments to a minimum.
I pledged to avoid looking at the clock so often, which only made me wish my day away.
I also brought a small notebook and Bible to my lunch breaks. I needed strength from His Word to help me to endure this.
I also reminded myself that this is only temporary, a point during my life journey to get me through to the job that I really want.
It helped.
I guess it's true: It's all in our outlook, how we choose to see things.
Make no mistake, I'm not thrilled about retail. But it's a job. For now.
If you're in a similar job situation, here's a prayer starter:
Lord, thank You for giving us strength, and humbling us. Thank You for blessing us to work to sustain ourselves, even if it's a job we only tolerate, do not like, or even despise. Helps us to remember that our hope is in You. You want us to work, because there are many references in Your word about working. Hear our prayers to endure, and hear our prayers to obtain jobs and/or careers where we find meaning, impact and purpose. Refresh and strengthen us to do what we must to sustain ourselves and keep our households afloat. Thank You in advance for hearing and answering our prayers, and for shining Your light through us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
