Providence

DateLine (2/22/06 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

Harriett and I were married while we were in college. We both worked the summer of our wedding (1975) and salted away the handsome some of $1000 between the two us. That was our total budget for the first 9 months of marriage for clothes, groceries, household sundries and entertainment while we completed our education. We didn’t starve. We were down to our last $50 at the end of 9 months and a man called to offer a job in the construction industry. I was the only guy I knew that had a BS in Chemistry that was installing prefab chimneys and fireplaces.

I quit that job after 5 months to move back to Woodruff because we thought the job prospects would be better in the Upstate. After a few weeks I landed a new position as a chemical operator / technician in a small chemical plant. Five weeks later I was unceremoniously fired from that “position.” We never missed a meal - the power was never turned off. Within two months I landed a new position with Celanese Chemical in Greer as a Chemical Lab Technician, a position that I was technically over-qualified far and meant that I would be working rotating shifts. I was so glad to get the job I didn’t even realize how much I’d be paid until I got my first check.

Within a few months of landing my new “position” we were surprised to discover that Harriett was pregnant with what would be our first child. My new job afforded a very nice maternity benefit. The shifts lasted for 2 and ½ years. In the meantime we were able to build a house on some land that my Mom and Dad made available to us. We still live in that house today. I was offered a day shift job but it meant that I’d have to take a substantial pay cut but would get to assume a normal schedule. I took the cut. The day shift job allowed me to get involved with some cutting edge computer technology that was being applied to manufacturing and raise my participation level in my home church as Harriett and I took on the co-positions of youth director. Within two years I was promoted to my first “professional” position as computer programmer; with a raise.

Fast forward ten years. Solid experience on the leading edge of application of computerization and manufacturing automation opened the door for me to join one of Greenville’s consulting engineering firms; bigger horizons - better opportunities. In 2002 I felt God’s prompting to start a consulting business; big potential – big risk. I formed the company over the Christmas holidays in 2002. I was attempting to attend to all the preliminary organizational details in early 2003 when the company that I was working for asked me attend some training. This forced my hand and I concluded that I had to resign before I had planned – I could not in good conscience allow them to invest more in me when I intended to resign soon. I went in on a Monday morning and was prepared to resign my position and walk away from a steady income. I did resign but I walked away with an invitation to continue working on a contractual basis for a few months; much needed part time work. We never had to skip a meal and the power was never turned off.

Within the first few months of my self-employment Harriett found out that she needed surgery. We had medical insurance through her job but it would leave us with a substantial bill after the insurance did its part. We decided that the surgery could not wait so it was scheduled. The surgery was performed. Within an hour of her returning to her room to begin post-operative recovery, my cell phone rang; a client was calling with an offer to get involved with a project. That was June of 2003. I have been continuously working projects since.

Now those that really know me know that I’m one of the least ambitious people that was ever created. I have been perfectly content living in Green Pond South Carolina enjoying my time with my family, piddling in my yard and garden, and supporting my church family through active involvement. The things that I’ve shared did not happen to me because of a carefully crafted strategy executed with singular focus.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34

My life is a testimony to the providence of God. Praises to Jehovah God!!