I Never Saw It Coming – “You’re Fired!”

I’ve been fired twice in my life. I’ve heard you haven’t truly lived till you have been fired two or three times. I guess I can breathe a big sigh of relief knowing I am now truly living.

In neither situation did I see it coming. In fact, it was just the opposite, I thought I was doing a great job.

It is funny thinking about it now, and as I write this I have to laugh. I didn’t fit the bill of the typical girl who gets fired from her job for not showing up or taking too many breaks. Needless to say, I got the boot and I tell the story with pride as part of my scattered, wounded, and beautiful past which has made me who I am today.

I remember both instances with great clarity. It felt like I had been whacked over the head with a cast iron skillet and the tears I shed after each were heart wrenching. Probably what was wrenched more, however, was simply my pride.

The first time, was on Michael’s birthday. We were dating at the time and I was taking him to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for a special birthday surprise.

I got the call of doom on our way there. “It just isn’t working out,” said the Dr’s assistant in a pinched and overly kind tone. “Don’t worry about coming back on Monday, just stop by and pick up your stuff.” I could tell she felt sorry for me and I didn’t know what was worse, her sympathy or being fired and pushed out the back door.

The second time, my boss told me to my face, but in a round about way that was supposed to make me feel better, I guess. He told me I was going to be moved to an “on call” position rather than my full-time one. It was like he had cut off my one leg but was patting me on the back saying kindly, “Don’t worry, you can still finish the race with one leg.” I finished the job for him, I cut the other leg off and ended that day.

What I have realized is this. These firings have not only helped me in life, but have propelled me in life. They used to be a point of shame and confusion. Now I look at them with a thankful heart knowing they helped me take the next step, whether I was ready to do so or not.

Sometimes getting fired forces you to do something you wouldn’t have done on your own. It makes you step back and say, “Now what?”

For me both instances became a crossroad, a turning and walking a new direction, a time of re-evaluating. If we let them, these “knock you over the head with a frying pan” times become valuable beyond measure, the most pivotal times in our lives.

I look back thankful to have been fired, chopped, whacked, whatever you want to call it. I was forced to step to the next rung on the ladder of life. And, I can tell you with great confidence, the view from up here is more amazing than I could have ever imagined!

“Failure is just part of the process, and it’s not just okay; it’s better than okay. God doesn’t want failure to shut us down. God didn’t make it a three-strikes-and-you’re-out sort of thing. It’s more about how God helps us dust ourselves off so we can swing for the fences again. And all of this without keeping a meticulous record of our screw-ups.”   ~ from Love Does by Bob Goff

Question: Have you ever been fired? How has failure helped you in your life?