Walking Out One Last Time

I have been keeping a secret, and it's the reason I haven't posted anything here for awhile. It's a "secret" that, while I have not hesitated to exuberantly announce it to anyone I meet, I have not wished to discuss it here. It has been the preoccupation of almost every day for the last several months and, had I posted anything, I feared it would come tumbling out at any given time. It is such a multi-faceted, open-ended move, there is no discussing it with justice in a single forum. I pray it will evolve and unfold for quite a bit of time to come, and I welcome you to stop back and discover God's continued goodness and faithfulness along with me. But, in the meantime, the short story is,

I have retired from my paying gig. 

After more than thirty years in a place I didn't plan to stay longer than a year or so, it's over. And I'm not sorry. I have been waiting for this; I have been praying for this. And one afternoon, as I walked to the parking lot, I knew the time had come.

In April 1989, I began working at United Parcel Service (as it was named then). I enjoyed the job; I enjoyed my coworkers; I was privileged to be surrounded by true professionals. Few people could imagine such a level of partnership and mutual respect that existed from top to bottom; to be an employee in any capacity, was to be a valued member of the ranks for life. But, knowing I'd stay, that this would be the bulk of my adult life -- I didn't. And yet, when it comes to leaving such a place, I know it is time. Perhaps, because years ago, I was not looking to settle into a thirty-plus year career; recently, however, I have been looking to move on. 

As you can imagine, in such a significant amount of time, in a career that has spanned multiple shifts and multiple departments, I have known, worked alongside, and developed friendships with some pretty wonderful people. Some are dedicated professionals, and some are dedicated to being professional at a steady job. Some of the folks I've met have been smitten with me, and I with them; others will be happy to see me go, and I will, quite frankly, be relieved to no longer interact professionally or personally. The company itself has changed dramatically, and I can't say I endorse its transformation; but, I would be wrong if I did not acknowledge it has meant something, it has taught me a great deal, it has prepared me for other areas of leadership, and it has certainly provided for my family and me in ways few other jobs could. I am grateful.

All of this to say, if you are a regular reader, thank you. Be prepared for some pretty cool stuff to come. God has set me aside for a purpose, and I have been gifted with a pretty significant portion of my days and weeks to work in that purpose. If you are a former coworker or UPS partner, thanks for the ride. I hope you'll pop in once in awhile and see what God and I are up to; but if not, know you have been a special part of my life. Thanks for your words of encouragement, our moments of commiseration, your professionalism, the pen you loaned me to fill out my timesheet that day, the zoo passes, the flowers and chocolates and vending machine "birthday cake", the aggravation which drove me to praying for both of us, the lack of training which caused me to develop my own strengths, the hours of going over and above to meet challenges, the laughs, the hugs, the tears, the cold we passed back and forth for six weeks, the extra drivers, the mulligans on days I didn't have my head in the game, the movie recommendations, the tmi, the invitations, the baby shower, the promotion, the directions, the precious moments in life we have shared. May God bless each and every one of you with an insight to His grace and a desire to know Him and His love for you.