Rosemary Sambora’s Reflection

In my most recent reflection, I wrote about my Joy podcast. It is now finished; and I am so grateful for being called to that experience, which allowed me to stretch my comfort zone. The guests in all 12 episodes shared their wonderful insights about joy and how they experience it.

Now it is time (God’s perfect timing) to take those gems of wisdom that were shared and to apply them. Drawing on the collective wisdom that was shared in the podcast episodes has helped me make a recent decision. And that dovetails nicely into the subject of this reflection.

Be careful what you pray for. You might just end up getting it. I think we’ve heard that before. And as I reflect on a prayer of mine that seems to have been recently granted, I am truly grateful for a new opportunity. I am also wondering what is in store for me with this opportunity. I have prayed for over a decade for a return to working as a professional librarian in the public library setting. I have had multiple interviews and just as many rejection emails. It has truly been a humbling experience as well as a season of waiting.

Now, the opportunity of a part-time temporary job (not the full-time permanent position for which I prayed) in the public library setting has arisen for me. This will be evenings and weekends in addition to my full-time “day job”. The day job is remote, and that has somewhat spoiled me for the last four years, especially the aspect of the time saved by not being in heavy traffic.

The library job will be a trek of a commute, which will put additional wear and tear on my vehicle. There are other minor drawbacks. For example, I will be temporarily sacrificing some of my usual and pleasurable time commitments. I trust that others in my life who are impacted will understand when I take a step back from things for a while. Given the relatively minor drawbacks, I am led (and choosing) to have the perspective that the positives far outweigh the negatives in this situation.

The public library is truly a source of joy for me and that counted for a lot when considering the positives. Also, this will be a chance for some degree of ministry because the branch at which I will be working is in a traditionally underserved area. Is this one way that I am supposed to share joy and to be the hands and feet of Jesus? I certainly hope so.

Discernment, prayer, and reflection were a big part of the decision process; and I now pray for strength, stamina, energy, and endurance for me to be able to do both jobs successfully while giving glory to God. But a better prayer might be as simple and all-encompassing as: Thy will be done. The Holy Trinity is with me, in me, and guiding me; and I have faith that all will be well, once again, in God’s perfect timing.