April 21, 2010 - Jimmie Shahan

April 21, 2010
Seasons come and go. I am not talking about the seasons of nature but the seasons of life. Years ago I owned a retail store in Ruston and I had reached a place where I truly wanted a change. At the time I was spending about half of my time out of the store doing commercial photography which I really enjoyed. I thought about just doing that full-time, but the problem was that there was not enough business in the area to justify making a full-time living. Then I got to thinking about one of the passions in my life which is computer programming. It was one of those “Ah-Ha” moments. Two jobs that would work together well. Commercial photography work is usually on short notice. You have to be able to drop whatever else you are doing and get to work. On the other hand the programming can be done day or night without a rigid schedule. Now I had a plan. Find some contract programming jobs, continue my commercial shooting and build the volume from the two to the point that I could generate enough income to close my retail store.

Within a few months I picked up a job with a small software company in Monroe. Things went very well with my work for them, and I thought that I was on my way with my plan. Things moved along till the day I had a meeting with the firm’s lead programmer. We talked about the project that I had been contracted to do and then he blurted out "Why don't you come to work for me full-time." I was somewhat taken back, and I am not known for fast comebacks, but I immediately replied "You probably can't afford me." I was surprised by the salary that he came back with, and I told him that I would give it some thought. Over the next week with the help of my wife and a close friend I came to the decision to accept the position. My life was changing in a big way. The next 2 weeks were a whirlwind as I informed my customers and landlord that I was closing the store. Everything was going great.

At least it was great until I got the phone call that the programmer who offered the position did not have the power to do so and that my resume would be added to a group of 200 applications. You can imagine the range of emotions that went through my mind as I got off that call. Mad, yes. Upset, yes. Scared, yes. I had already announced to the world that the business, my sole source of income was disappearing. It was strange. Within minutes of that call a peace came over me that I cannot explain. Somehow, I knew that everything would work out and I would get the job. The peace I had could have only come from God. We continued closing the store as weeks passed. I ended up having to interview with one of the owners of the company, and I did get the position.

I need to keep that memory firm in my mind. Seasons change. Technology changes. Clients change. Positions come to an end. The company and job that I loved came to an end a couple of years ago. Now I am in a new season. Things are getting better. I have to keep reminding myself that God is in control. He has always been there for me. The future is bright.

Jimmie Shahan