GO Put Your Strengths to Work

We had just had a job interview and confirmation of the land we were supposed to live in all in the same weekend (Nashville area--see the previous post).  Now we had to wait for a job offer and figure out if indeed the job Scott had just interviewed for was in fact, "the one."  In our last meal with the practice, the doctors invited their spouses to join us.  Many of them were very encouraging that Scott would be a perfect fit for this practice.  We both agreed that it seemed this time they really understood his strengths as an entrepreneur and understanding the business side of medicine, as well as always seeking ways to improve the care for kids in his clinic as well as the community as a whole.  They offered him the position a few days after we returned home, and he asked for a week to think it over and pray about it.  He spent the week talking with any connection he could think of in Nashville and asked them who were the most collegial practices, the most innovative, and the most up-to-date with their medical practice.  He did not tell any of these people who he had interviewed with, and we were amazed that this group was always mentioned in the top 2 choices as answers to these questions.  The night before we had to make a decision, I asked him what he felt like he should do--was this the practice he should join, or should he interview with the others?  We were sitting in his office talking about it, and as he was explaining the reasons why he felt pretty good about this job, just above his head was a book.  The words that I kept seeing directly above him, hovering above his head the whole time he talked, boldly spoke "GO, Put Your Strengths to Work."

It was pretty clear that God had provided a job that finally he would be appreciated and respected for his gifts and talents instead of feeling like he had to squelch them to not make a hospital administrator uncomfortable (only because when you're not working with a children's hospital, there is potential for conflict about the focus of the hospital's services/money).  It's in his nature to evaluate if money is being spent well, if services are provided at their best, and he is passionate about the care for kids, our most vulnerable and valuable citizens.
He called the practice the next day and accepted the job.  I felt like I couldn't breath when he was on the phone--not because it was the wrong thing, but because I knew our lives were going to drastically change.  This was in November.  The following Sunday we felt a confirmation during our worship service at church.  The music pastor started describing how Joshua and the Israelites approached the Jordan to cross into the Promised Land, and the waters were raging.  Then he proceeded to describe how Joshua instructed them to pick up twelve stones to place in the Jordan as they crossed and how the raging waters dried up when the feet of those holding the Ark of the Covenant (God's Presence)stepped in the water.  They all passed through on dry ground, and the stones were placed as a memorial.  We could not believe this was the reference he chose to describe--we cannot recall being in a service where this picture has been detailed.  This gave us great peace that we were on the right track.
We did not tell anyone until we had a signed contract, because we knew something might fall through, and we didn't want to cause unnecessary panic.  So this time period from mid-November until January was difficult.  As things got less promising here, it was comforting to know we had greater opportunity ahead, but it was sad knowing that soon we would be letting people know and making preparations.  Be confident in this--when God leads, He definitely goes before you and prepares the way.  We were overwhelmed with His goodness in providing us this opportunity and leading us so clearly.
Scott had been through quite a bit of soul-searching during this whole process.  If you are going through a tough time in your work identity, maybe you will find encouragement from some of the books on his shelf.