As I began to realize my calling to ministry beyond nursing, I also began to search out...to discern...what it was that God was calling me to. I discussed different options with a pastor, looking at different avenues of ministry where I felt I 'fit.' I (critical fact here...relying on self!) did not believe I was being called to preach, or to I loved children, so perhaps educational ministries; I love music, so perhaps music ministries; but neither of these really struck my heart. One day chaplaincy was mentioned and it was like the proverbial light bulb lighting up. Of course - what better way to blend my nursing career with the calling I was feeling! Then I discovered to be a Methodist chaplain, I would still need to become an ordained minister.
"Wait a minute, God... that isn't in my plan! Besides, that requires a whole lot of schooling! I am working full-time... I can't work and go to school..."
Well, one needs to be extremely cautious when trying to get God to fit YOUR plans! God has a strange way of getting YOUR plans to fit those of God!
One week before I was to celebrate my 2oth anniversary as a nurse at MDACC as well as it being the day before I was to start a two-week vacation, I was laid off! The division in which I was working was being dissolved!
I was devestated to say the least. I was given a 6 month severance package which allowed me to continue being paid, covered my insurance and accrue both vacation and sick time. I suddenly realized God was telling me, "OK, you said you couldn't work and go to school. What is your excuse now?"
I had none. Except that I needed money to pay my bills, even to pay for school. However, sinceI was still getting a "salary", so to speak, for the next six months, I decided to use this unexpected time of freedom to do some serious soul searching. I decided to not look for a job for three months and to just relax and spend some time deciding exactly what God was calling me to.
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