Searching Austin for Jobs
December 6th, 2011 § 8 Comments
This summer my customers had the following conversation with me at least 2.4 million times, “So what are you doing after the season ends?”
“Well, we have no clue. We are going wherever we find work.”
“Oh, that’s exciting! What kind of work do you do?”
“I studied journalism, and my husband is a Network Engineer,” I would reply kindly, like it was the first time anyone had asked me all summer.
“You should move to AUSTIN! There are sooooo many IT jobs, it’s a a lower-cost of living than Silicon Valley, fun, artsy town with the best music scene in the country!”
1.1 million of my customers told me that exact line this summer. Maybe it was a sign? Should we go to Austin, even though we don’t have jobs there yet?
We did have a place to stay with a dear friend who we met in Bangkok, and no job offers anywhere else in the country. We said why not, and after our Europe trip, drove four days from Wyoming to Austin.
And now we are looking for jobs, and exploring this great town. But Dom, who usually carries his camera with him wherever we go, has left it in the closet lately. After I asked why, he said, “Because I feel at home here in Austin.” After three weeks of living here, he feels at home.
It’s a good sign.
But it’s hard. It’s hard to believe we will finally get full-time jobs in our areas of study after waiting years for them. It is hard to not see a paycheck coming in week after week. It is hard to fill out the same online application thirty times for different companies. It is hard to refresh emails every five minutes, and anxiously check our phone messages, and not hear anything back. It is hard to interview and wait days and days and wonder if we will get it, and we don’t.
Waiting is one of life’s hardest trials. But we are trying to have faith—believing without seeing that things really are working out for the good.
For now, these verses are what we are hoping to live out.
Though the cherry trees don’t blossom
and the strawberries don’t ripen,
Though the apples are worm-eaten
and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless
and the cattle barns empty,
I’m singing joyful praise to God.
I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
Counting on God’s Rule to prevail,
I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer.
I feel like I’m king of the mountain!
Habakkuk 3:17-19 The Message
My dear friend! I SO know how you feel – it’s discouraging, disheartening and emotionally exhausting. God sees your faithfulness, your hope and your devotion to Him and His oh-so perfect plan for your lives. Love you and praying for you both!
“…In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Aww, thanks for those uplifting words Heidi! That means a lot to me
Love you dear!
Sherri -
Not sure if you remember me, but this is Lauren Graeber (was Lauren Casey). John and I are living in Austin as well. We moved here about a year ago. While I’m useless when it comes to helping with a job, I did want to say that if y’all haven’t found a church in town, we just started attending Servant Church (meets in East Austin) this fall and it’s a great community of folks. Love for y’all to join us there sometime and then maybe grab lunch/coffee. From facebook I know you’ve had quite an adventure since UNC. I’d love to hear about it!!
Take care!
Lauren
Of course I remember you! That’s great that you live in Austin too. Thanks for telling us about the church! We would love to meet up with you two!
Love you Shersy. It will happen!! stay strong, sista!
Love you too Ebsy! Thanks for your constant encouragement sista
Hey Sherri, another great post, transparent and honest. I read it 3 times. Just to make sure I caught every bit.
I like the part about Dom’s camera, how he doesn’t take as many pictures because he feels at home there. That’s a cool insight.
About Habakkuk, however… I really don’t think you guys are in THAT place. You’ve got options and choices and mobility.
And what if there’s really no such thing as “waiting”? What if it’s just that you’ve found yourself in a country called Inbetween? And what if there’s something for you see or do or grasp in Inbetween? And maybe Dom should take out his camera again so that you can capture the wonder and beauty of Inbetween.
i love you both always… xoxoxo
Thank Pat! Yeah, I don’t think we are at that place of total desperation either like Habakkuk, but just wanted to highlight that verse that no matter how hard things are we can still rejoice in God and how He always comes through for us.
I love your perspective how we are in the country of the inbetween. It is an exciting place to be, and I hope we can savor it more rather than wishing for what’s next.
Love you tons!