For When You Leave One Place

Dear reader, 

Yesterday was a truly bittersweet day for me. It was my last day at the Cookie and Cracker factory I have been working at for the past 10 months. 

I went into the day with joy and passion, and I left with a headache and a Chocolate milk in my hand. 

But what happened in between was the most important part. 

There are normally 3 parts of the line that I work on. Most of which I am trapped if you will, and hidden from those passing by. Well, with it being my last day I wanted to say goodbye to everyone that I had an intentional conversation with, which would have been near to impossible. 

Yet. We serve an impossible God. He created a 4th spot on the line that day. And it was right by the entrance to the factory where everyone walks by for each break they take that day. 

I was blessed with many conversations I never would have guessed I would have had. 

I received many hugs. 

Fist bumps. 

A cave man handshake (That one was a new one for me.) 

“Good luck”s.

“I hope it works out”s.

“Stay out of trouble”s.

“You’re coming back right”s.

“We’ll miss you”s.

And even “You know we’re gonna cry when you’re gone right?”

It was crazy to think that such a short time so many conversations were had, so many memories were created, so much hurt and laughter were shared. 

There were some I never got to say goodbye to. 

Some were suspended and had different shifts that I didn’t take into account. 

Some quit and got fired before I could realize it. 

Some I couldn’t bring myself to engage due to senses of fear and awkwardness. 

Yet as I left the building there was a deep sense of- 

“Your time here is done. Now let’s go where I’m taking you.”

I knew this job paradigm shift was orchestrated by God from the get go. I felt the nudge months ago. I fought and sought him out. I fasted and sought out wisdom time and time again, but in the end I knew I was going to have to take up my cross and follow Him whether it made perfect sense or not. 

Faith involves acting upon the things you can’t see. 

I can see clearly in scripture that God will provide my every need, that a person is supposed to work the fields God has placed them in, and that true wisdom means to fear God and to submit all actions, thoughts, and desires unto Him. 

That dear reader is what I’ve done. 

I trust God more than I trust myself. 

I’m leaping off the ledge, and I know His hand has led me to the ledge itself, to paint an even clearer picture I sense Jesus Himself is jumping with me. 

He knows the outcome. 

He knows the trials and failures I will face. 

He knows the lives the will be impacted due to these choices. 

The factory had a break room with a small set of refrigerators that had a plethora of drinks, mostly unhealthy ones. But as I left I wanted to give a toast to Shearer’s. 

For the good, the bad, and the terrible pain it allowed me to overcome. 

I purchased a small bottle of Chocolate Milk, I clocked out, and after I left the building itself I turned towards the sign and lifted the Chocolate Milk high. 

“Cheers to you Shearer’s, you taught me so much, and I will never forget that.” 

I turned back and headed towards the next chapter of the story. 

Sincerely 

Your Ex Cookie and Cracker Packer 

-Mitchell