Quiet, Everyday Miracles

The 5th of October was my first day in a real job in Australia, i.e., a paying job. I remember the tension I felt as I entered the building. I was greeted by a nice man who introduced himself as the PDM (People Development Manager) who apparently was the person I am replacing. I glanced at the fairly decent office room that I will have, the spacious training room that I will use and the rest of the working environment that I will be setting my foot onto every day.

I was only in my sixth month in Australia at that time. That means everything is new. New country, new job, new work environment, new culture. I was brimming with hope and expectations. I can’t help my heart from leaping with joy. My lips were full of praises.

I remember how after a few hours into my first day that I was already driving a new car back home! Being a novice driver in a new road made me feel horrified and thrilled at the same time. I remember how my housemates gasped at the sight of me coming home with a humongous sedan all by myself! It was such a funny sight. Just the day before I was just at home doing my usual duties as a housewife. Now what am I doing with a new car? It’s like I just won the lottery and people wondered how I became instantly rich. Ha!Ha!Ha! I will never forget that day.

A few weeks after, I found myself sitting in my own room with my new laptop and a new cell phone. It was all happening like a dream. But it also took me a few weeks when reality started to bit me. How will I forget my boss as he gnashed his teeth as he insisted that I go out to stores two to three times a week? How will I forget how this interesting personality in the office rudely told me how to do my job? How will I forget how the enormous work sitting on my desk made me feel nauseous every day as I come to work? Yes, it was only a matter of weeks when I realised that what seemed like a dream turned into a nightmare.

The typical week consists of phone calls from stores listening to questions, complaints and whims, online applications to process, complaints from parents of staff, interview schedules, workers’ compensation issues, travel to stores, preparation of training activities, training paperwork, conduct of training, injury and safety issues, traineeship application, induction, release of uniforms, filing, photocopying, and the list goes on. I have slowly mastered the art of multi-tasking like faxing while photocopying, writing an email while talking on the phone, and oh yes, having lunch while working! The job itself was like putting together the various roles I’ve had in all my ten years in HR and Training. Honestly, my work has started to become quite revolting.

On top of all the work that needs to be done in a day, my boss can be totally impossible! I have serious issues about his ethical standards yet I maintain my professionalism. I disagree on most of his judgment calls yet I abide by his orders. I dread it when he asks for “a minute” of my time as he most often than not takes an hour with his “monologue.” He can and will humiliate you in front of everyone when he’s put on the spot as he had done with me more than once. He mumbles his words and annoyingly ends his litany with “Yah?” leaving you with no choice but to nod your head. Oh yeah. He’s a very unique character in my book.

How many times have I struggled to move on with my project on hand because of conflicting decisions between him and HR. Countless times have I been caught up with issues of “double-standards.” Countless times have I been a witness of office politics and conflict of interests to put it subtly. Honestly, not all of these experiences are my first time. I don’t think you can find a perfect company in whichever part of the world. But boy does it get any better than this?

I have strongly considered quitting and Gary and I have had several conversations about this. But despite Gary’s loving support I just can’t find it in my heart to quit now. No, life is much too complex than just one quick decision to end my ordeal.

While I continue to hang on with my job, it is such a great wonder how I was able to get through with my everyday challenges. The interesting thing about this whole new experience is how the Lord allows me to witness his quiet, everyday miracles. The quick prayer for wisdom and patience has become part of my daily supplication. I remember how I try to pull myself together each time I step out of the house as I hold the tears welling up my eyes. “God, today’s another day in the battlefield again.” I think I say a prayer three times even before my work even starts... once at home, once in the car and once in the office... all pleading for the Lord to give me a day of peace at work.

Oh it is such an awe at how God listens to prayers and how He enables me to experience the subtle yet powerful miracles in my life each day. The Lord turns my boss’ leer into a faint smile. With this disposition, the whole office environment just gets transformed into a calm, relaxed space even for just a while. Then the Lord just does something with my phone that allows me to have some peaceful hours into the day. He helps me sort out issues that to begin with I am clueless about. He grants me composure when my head would’ve been spinning with all the job that keeps on coming in. Then in His most benevolent way, He appeases the heart of the managers who would’ve been in their usual crabby mood as they speak to me. Before I knew it, my day is over in the office and the Lord fills me with a sense of fulfilment that on this day, I was able to serve the Lord without a tinge of distress.

Of course my desire is to one day find that workplace that will bring back my cheer and allow me to radiate my joy. While I have always believed that life is not defined by the work that we do, I have long realised how important it is to find a job that you will enjoy because the reality is that most of us spend more hours in the day at work and it can, sadly enough, inevitably take the best of you.

I never expected life to be easy in Australia and it has not been. But it is witnessing God’s quiet, everyday miracles that make our new journey much, much more meaningful.

“ Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” - Proverbs 3:3