Thursday, July 18, 2013

Five Minute Friday: Belong

Five Minute FridayFive Minute Fridays are the beautiful, unscripted moments that happen between Thursday night at the FMFParty on Twitter and for days and days after as post after post of inspiration and encouragement gets linked up at Lisa Jo Baker’s site here. Writers and joy abound and it’s a great place to be.

This Week: Belong

Go

If we work outside the home, we spend the bulk of our days with strangers, who slowly become an intricate part of our lives. We hope they might become friends. If we’re lucky, they might even start to feel like family. I’ve had one or two instances like that in my life, and far more many jobs where it was just a job; just a place to clock in; just a place to do my best work and then get out of there.

But really, I’m not built like that. I can pretend to be a tough girl who doesn’t care; someone who manages to stay above it all – and yes, part of that’s true. I’m a born loner and a bit of a fringe dweller, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to have a place to belong – especially if I’m going to spend forty plus hours a week there.

My last job – meh. That was about as far from friends and belonging as I am from Calcutta. In the end, it was awful, and sent me in a downward spiral that took my health, my emotional well-being, and my sense of security for car wreck of a crash that almost leveled me.

I didn’t have a lot of hope after that – thought I’d be left on the fringes for the rest of my career – maybe thought I’d be freelancing for the rest of my life and popping in and out of teams that meshed and clicked – again – standing on the outside looking in.

And then I found the basement crew. Honestly, about the last thing I expected to do. After a lifetime career in marketing and communications, tech support was not where I saw myself going.

But I did.

And it fit.

Boy did it ever.

It's all a part of His timing and His plan, but this unusual mix of techie, geeky, authentically wonderful people welcomed me in, trained me and showed me that I had skills I hadn’t even realized, and more than anything, made me feel at home. I’ve been with them for about a year, but it wasn’t until this last week as I sat at my desk imaging one of the many new Microsoft Surface Pros that we’re rolling out later this year that I do indeed have skills outside of the box I’d always carried around, and that indeed, I had found my safe spot, my landing spot, my new work place that feels like home.

Stop

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17 comments :

  1. Don't you just sit back in wonder when you see how God moves and directs us during seasons and some are lonely and less meaningful and some are filled and plentiful but they all teach us that His timing and His leading is always there. So glad you found a place where you truly belong and where your gifts are being used.

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    1. I do. With wonder and awe. He has amazing timing and I'm so blessed to where He's guided me at this time.

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  2. Rebekah,
    I love the name of your blog. It's funky and descriptive. Don't we all have bees in our bonnets, whatever the color may be...I yes, we all want to belong, don't we. I belong to a tribe of amazing online friends. A community of like minded woman and men. I travel, do not stay long enough to make friends...but I have friends and I belong virtually.
    Keep belonging..my friend.
    Patricia
    http://mojjitoandme.com

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Paticia - I'm just beginning to discover my own online community, and it can be such a blessing, can't it?

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  3. Oh my friend... I love this! I love that He has unwrapped gifts inside and used others to help call them forth... I love that He has gifted you with a team that you feel that sense of Belonging with... and I pray that it just leaks out into other areas of your life as well!

    Missed you tonight... Love ya!
    ~K~

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    1. I'm so blessed that He has touched my life in so many ways. This job is such an answer to prayer. I'll share the story with you sometime. It's good to have a space to belong - and now I have one in my work world!

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  4. I love the way God sends gifts our way that are often disguised as ugly. Some of my "ugliest" gifts have become my most favorite blessings! So glad you're home!

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    1. Lori, so blessed that He took me on my Desert Journey and that this is where He's planted me for now. It allows me to use one set of talents at work, while freeing my creative talents for writing and designing at home. I am blessed.

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  5. This post ROCKS! You are totally awesome and I hope we get to meet in real life soon. What a cool perspective. You got it goin' on sista! Rock on!!

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    1. Looking forward to an inRL meet someday Debi. That you for the encouragement. God is good!

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  6. I'm happy you're finding your niche and fitting in right where God is using your buried treasures to bless others. You belong there. Seems like God has made that clear. Yea!

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    1. "Buried treasures" - love that - I hadn't thought of it that way, but that's what it is. He really has blessed me with this. Thanks, friend!

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  7. i love this. Love that He took you were you could have least imagined and there was the community you had desired all along. I work for Starbucks and have been there for several years. the community and connections that I have formed with several of my customers is such a blessing...one that I would never have imagined. Thank you for your FMF entry

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  8. So thankful for where He's brought you, to this job that you find so much fulfillment in. I am fortunate to work for my church and blessed to call so many people there friends.

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  9. Rebekah,

    As a member of the "basement crew," I just wanted to say that I'm glad you are here with us. From the very first day, you belonged. Whether or not that should be taken as a compliment is something I'll leave to others to decide. ;)

    I remember you asking me if I thought you had a chance to make this new field a career. I remember your nervousness in your interview for the full-time position. You're a great addition to our team, and I'm glad every day I get to see you.

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Thank you for the kindess of your comment. I pray your patience with the word verification. I've had such troubles with spammers lately. Thank you for grace. I look forward to reading all the comments and responding. I appreciate you!