We’re closing in on Week #1 of the Unemployed Adventures of Bri Gerzevske. The last seven days have felt like SEVEN YEARS. It is wild how much time has slowed down.
I think the initial shock of my firing has worn off. The ebb and flow of the anger has diminished significantly in its frequency. What remains is the sadness.
Sadness in the loss of my amazing teammates and co-workers and a workplace culture that, I’m afraid, will never be replicated.
Sadness in the lost potential of what could have been a very beautiful time of collaboration with my employer.
Sadness in the missed opportunity for reconciliation and a restoration of mutual understanding between co-workers.
Sadness in knowing I’ll be forgotten far sooner than I would like, while knowing that I will never forget the people at St. Patrick Center who changed my life in precious ways. The people I will carry with me in my heart forever.
Of course, there have been some nuggets of unexpected joy this last week — meetings, texts, endorsements and encouragement from places I’d never expect, and random acts of kindness. Or the not-so-random ones.
I am thankful that I can lean into the absurdity of the whole situation with a dash of cheekiness — which is a testament to how far God has brought me in my work-esteem and resilience.
And that realization reminds me: this is not the first time I’ve been unemployed. I mean, I was forged in the fires of hell that were Graduating with My Bachelors Degree in 2008.
Hopefully it will be the last time I am unemployed by choice, but I (obviously) can’t determine that for myself.
And whatever happens, God remains faithful.
He was faithful before I walked into that board room.
He was faithful as I was getting fired in that board room, turning in my badges and my keys, and asking questions that were never answered.
He was faithful as I was walked out of the building.
And He is faithful now and always — in every job opportunity, every application, every interview, every kindness, and every extra pickle.
musings of an everywoman 