Asking Can Be Hard

In August, I began getting emails at work inviting me to take part, along with other LiftOne and Carolina Tractor work-mates,  in the American Heart Association Charlotte Heart Walk.  I like to walk.  That's not a hard thing for me to do.  My initial hesitation involved raising money.  I hated the thought of asking people to donate money, even though it wasn't for me personally.  

So I mulled over the idea.  I realized that heart disease has hit home with me, as my mom passed away from a stroke in 2004.  I also realized it was likely to occur again in my family.  I myself am more susceptible to heart disease now that I have undergone chemotherapy. 

I decided to jump in and go for it.  This would be a good thing that I could join in at work to help others, to help families like my own, and to help foster more of a sense of camaraderie in my work place.  It turned out to be so much fun!

The first thing I did was to upload this photo of my mom and dad to the Heart Walk site, to put a face on this disease.  I decided to walk in Mom's memory...to honor her life.  

This is my favorite picture of the two of them.  They are sitting on the front steps of my childhood home.  Dad is saying something silly and Mom is smiling.  I love them so much.

After posting the photo, I had to decide on a fundraising goal.  Being apprehensive about asking for money, I started out with a modest goal of $350. When the money started coming in, I feared that if people saw that I met my goal, they would not give.  I raised it to $500.  Then I raised it to $1,000.  Then I decided not to raise it again but to ask people to help me to double my goal.

LiftOne in Blue, Carolina Tractor in Yellow..One Big Team

I  am known for being an "all or nothing" kind of person.  Sometimes this doesn't serve me well.  In cases like this, it comes in handy.  When I set my mind to something and I commit, I'm all-in.  I sat down on Labor Day to write an email to potential donors (I sent well over 150 of them!).  My first draft was lame.  I had to chuck it...I was actually going to start out by talking about how much I hate asking people for money.  It didn't feel right to begin that way.  

I heard a voice, "You have not because you ask not."  No, it wasn't an audible voice.  It is actually a quote from Scripture, from James 4:2, to be exact.  It's a passage that has crossed my mind and heart more than once this year.  I had decided at the beginning of this year, that I was going to take God at His word.  
I am choosing to believe God for more than I could ask or hope for...so here was another opportunity to test my faith.  If I did not ask, I would not receive.

How can asking hurt?  What's the worst-case scenario?  Some may be offended. Well, that is not my intention.  If they are offended, that is out of my control. Some people will say no.  That is okay.  I will not be offended if their answer is no. Some people will say yes.  I am providing an opportunity and the choice is theirs. There is nothing to fear.  It may sound silly, but I did have to have this conversation with myself.

It was exciting when people began to respond.  I started getting surprised almost every day.  I decided to send hand-written, old-fashion, "snail-mail" thank-you's to all of the individuals who donated on my web page.  It was fun to connect with these folks and send them a personal thank-you.  A thank-you for giving to the Heart Association and a thank-you for helping me to honor my mom.  

Once I exceeded $1,000, I was given "super-star status" and the privileges were a special parking place and free breakfast on the morning of the event.  I was also given a lei of faux flowers to wear on the walk.  

The LiftOne Team 

Another surprise bonus benefit of participating in the walk was getting to know a lovely co-worker better, Karen Thompson.  Karen was our Team Leader at LiftOne. It was great fun to go by her desk and share progress as well as laughs.  She definitely made the event more fun.

 

Karen and Janice at Heart Walk 2013

 
Our company's goal for LiftOne was $2,000.  I secretly thought I might be able to do that myself but I didn't verbalize it until close to the end.  On the day before the walk, I was just $150 shy of $2,000.  I donned a headband called a "Heart Bopper" and carried a basket around the office and asked for spare change.  I collected $86!  I called some friends in PA who had said they were going to give and got a commitment. 

When it was all said and done, my total raised was $2,266!  LiftOne raised $6,021 (with company match added).  If you are reading this and you contributed on my page, thank you so very much!  I was touched by how many generous people are in my life.  I was proud of you all. 

I asked and I received.  I received more than I had hoped for...and I received different things than I had asked for...new friends, laughter, confidence, connection...what a treat.

I have already been asked to fill Karen's shoes next year as champion of our company's efforts in the Heart Walk 2014.  I already have some good ideas.  They may involve Heart Boppers.  Stay tuned....


 

James 4:2

New International Version (NIV)

2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 

Timing Is Everything

Yesterday, I was reminded that timing is everything.  For everything there is a season.  God sees it all.  And yes, I do believe that all things work together for good for those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

I still don’t know why I am where I am for this season but it feels right.  It feels comfortable.  It has been the easiest transition for me people-wise that I can remember.  Truly, there has always been difficulty for me in adjusting to new jobs…learning the lay of the land…political pitfalls and all.  So far, this place feels like low-drama.  No office queens to maneuver…no curmudgeons...just good people.  Thank you, Lord.

As I was talking yesterday with Brian, the man who formerly had my position, I was again reminded that timing is everything.  The Corporate Controller turned in his resignation on November 29^th.  Brian was approached in early December to take the Corporate Controller position, which left the Regional Controller position open at that time.  In early December, I was fully invested in my former job with no thoughts of leaving. 

Over Christmas vacation, as I prayed, I held out my hands, palms up, and told God that I was fully committed to my current job, but that I was willing to let go if it be His will.  I added that He would need to “kick me out of the nest” to make it clear that my time there was done. 

On January 3^rd, my second day back from Christmas vacation, I was “kicked out of the nest.”  Even as I was hearing the words, my heart was comforted by knowing that God was answering my prayers.  He had prepared me and I was ready to go, even though my heart had been fully vested.  I am a loyal person and a creature of habit.  It is sometimes difficult for me to make changes in my life.  

So, meanwhile, nothing had been done at my current job to fill the Regional Controller position.  It was January 20^th when I saw the position posted on Linked In.  I had never applied for a job on Linked In before and I hardly read the job description.  As it was a Sunday, I was probably clicking on anything that said “Controller” in order to fill my weekly quota for unemployment, to be honest.  There were some other things in the works and I was more focused on those jobs and confident that one of them would come through.

I got a call about a week later from the company’s HR contact, and I almost didn’t return the call.  I assumed the job was at the parent company’s location, north of the city, and I didn’t want to drive that far.  I waited a day to call back.  When I did, I discovered that the location was actually 5 miles from my home.

After 2 interview sessions and a personality test, I was offered the Regional Controller position on February 22^nd and I started work on March 4^th.  I had two months of rest, time with friends, and learning to trust God more.  It was time I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Timing is everything.  Thank you, Lord, for your perfect timing.  I will choose to trust You more…

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
     a time to love and a time to hate,    a time for war and a time for peace.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV