Losing My Job and Finding Purpose
Adjusting to the absence of daily routines
Last Monday, I lost my job due to cutbacks at a company I had worked for over the past nine years. It wasn't completely unexpected, but it still felt strange to lose the security of a steady income and health insurance in a ten-minute Zoom call.
At first, I felt a bit anxious, but as a man of faith, I trusted that God would provide. That anxiety quickly gave way to excitement about what the Lord might have in store for me next. It was a strange mix of emotions, but I am anticipating bigger and better things. As long as I can provide for my family and support my adult children when they need it, I am content. I live simply — my wife and I share one vehicle, we don't spend extravagantly, and we live within our means. I haven't even purchased a new computer in eleven years.
Since then, I have applied for several positions as an OSINT Analyst, as I am hoping to continue working remotely after nine years of doing so. I also had several people reach out on LinkedIn to check on me, which I genuinely appreciated.
Past Week
Since losing my job, I have spent the past week working on a farm where my wife and her friend are launching a faith-based micro school. Set on 28 acres, the school will incorporate academics alongside outdoor activities such as gardening, animal care, small engine repair, farm maintenance, and building a strong work ethic. The property owner has graciously granted permission to use the land, though the farm has been neglected for several years, leaving us with plenty of work to do. The property is currently home to cows, goats, chickens, and Guinea fowl.
I worked Mon-Fri doing the following:
- Cleaning barns
- Moving hay
- Bush hogging
- Cutting grass
- Fixing gravity feeders
- Clearing brush
- Cutting pasture grass
Time outdoors putting in a hard day's work has been therapeutic. My dad taught me as a young boy to work hard and take pride in my accomplishments. We were taught to always go the extra mile, to do things the right way, and to stand back at the end of the day with a deep appreciation for a job well done.
Going Forward
I will continue applying for jobs while trusting the Lord to open the right door. For the time being, there are no more daily team meetings or structured work routines, and I am at peace with that. Instead, I will spend my time working on the farm, contributing to what I am confident will become an amazing faith-based micro school. The goal is to help children learn to be good stewards of what God has given them and to develop practical life skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.