Downsized But Not Out

About a year and a half before our planned move to Texas I asked my previous employer if I would still have a job with them if I moved. The answer was, "yes, absolutely. You're a good Recruiter and it really doesn’t matter to us where you are geographically." Then I asked if it was okay to take all my vacation time all at once. "Yes, that won't be a problem!" Armed with that critical info I made carefully laid out plans and made the move.

The weeks passed and then I eagerly logged back on to work. So far so good. Everything was going according to plan. I was actually feeling very upbeat and ready to "make it happen". About three and a half weeks later I received a impromptu meeting invitation from my manager. "Joel, I'm sorry for such short notice but I really need you to make this meeting." That was on a Monday. I was not prepared for what I was about to hear. It went something like this, " Joel, I have E.R. on the call with us. I regret to inform you that your position has been eliminated. It's nothing you did wrong. It's just a realignment by the bank. You can finish out the day but as of tonight at midnight your credentials will be eliminated from our systems." Fear immediately rose up within me. I felt a terrifying panic engulf my whole body. I could almost hear my heart beating through my chest. The adrenaline waspumping and mind racing. My first thought was, "O' God, this cannot be happening. I've been with the company almost 16 years! We just bought a new house! They said just last year it was okay to move! My wife quit her job just prior to us leaving! What are we going to do? How can I tell my wife?" Needless to say it was just like I got hit by a Mack truck.

Now anyone who has lived a reasonable amount of time on this terrestrial ball we call earth has had, or will have, something like this happen to them. I was not alone. I was not singled out by some mythological Greek god enacting vengeance upon me. I was not stranded on the Island of Patmos. I had just experienced a fact of life. The choice was now mine. I'm I going to be a victim? And that's the choice each one of us has to make when we get knocked down in life. Whether it's a divorce, death of a loved one, a bad prognosis, a job loss, a major test we failed, or a bad accident. The fact is, nobody get's out of here alive. So if you're alive you still have a reason to live and to hope. I knew that God had led us to Texas. I knew He wasn't taken off guard and surprised atwhat happened to Joel Zenner. I simply had to trust Him and get back up. Notice, it was not one or the other. Faith is active. You can't say I have hope and faith and just do nothing. Not to get all "spiritual" on you, but the Bible does say, "But someone will say, you have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds." James 2:18 NIV Now the above statement not withstanding, it certainly doesn't mean that you'll not feel grief, loss and/or disappointment. Unless you're a stoic you're going to feel a lot of unpleasant feelings. And it's okay to go through a time of grieving. In fact it's unhealthy if you don't. But you can't afford to live there.

Now I work for a better company than the one I got booted out of. It's a much better fit for me. I love the people I work with, my job, and I couldn't ask for a better boss. The bad that happened to me ended up being good for me. I was downsized but not out. You won't be out either if you just get back up.

D. Joel Zenner

Freelance Writer