David and Goliath.

I have met my Goliath. At six feet tall already, this giant is figurative NOT literal. But I feel about the size of David, armed for battle with only a slingshot and a couple of pebbles.

The job search has been difficult and rather fruitless. I interviewed for two jobs in Arlington without securing a position. The district where I live is also where Rachel teaches. Fairfax County is a huge district with an unbelievable number of schools, students and teachers. To give you a bit of comparison, Fairfax is bigger than Olathe, Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley and KCK combined.

I would really like to work in this district because it is close to home and where Rach works. Additionally I found a team at George Mason of other teachers who live/work in this area, and I think we would be a good fit for the duration of the program. Yesterday I found out that all the openings I applied to were filled. I was indignant. How did I not even get an interview? My friends and family surrounded me with phone calls of support. Surely these principals were crazy!

This morning I learned there is more to the story. I applied to a school close to where we live, and I was very persistent with the principal. I finally received some sort of a response from administration, and even though it is kind of bad news, it is comforting. Here's what she wrote...

Hello!
Thank you for your inquiry and follow up email. I have nearly 100 applicants at this point. You may have noticed I pulled the ad from the web. I am sorting through resumes and inquiries in an effort to interview candidates whom I feel are best fit for our school.

My Goliath is all about the numbers. I'm standing on the battlefield with my few pebbles, and I know people believe in me and are backing me up. I'll keep loading my slingshot and sending out the resumes, and I have faith that where God needs me he will put me. David didn't walk around killing big men to practice for Goliath, God used him where he needed him. Please pray that God will use me where He needs me. 100 applications doesn't overwhelm me, and in an odd way it sort of comforts me. I am not deficient. I am up against a huge number of applicants all struggling for a job in this crazy time.

I was flipping through a book Candi gave me today and found this Chuck Swindoll quote. Pretty perfect actually.

"There is only one you. God wanted you to be you. Don't you dare change just because you're outnumbered!"

And here's something that makes me smile and laugh every night - trying to get this little guy to smile and laugh. Finley is 3 months old already!


***For more on how to use literally correctly, please watch How I Met Your Mother: Season 3, Episode 8.