Miracles

Today I accepted a job offer: come August, I will be Assistant Professor of Humanities at Kendall College of Art and Design. That might not sound like a miracle, but I assure you, it was designed and engineered by God.

Three weeks or so ago when my husband accepted a position at Western Michigan University, I was sent into a wild, last-minute desperate search for work in the same area. I checked the usual spots--JIL and the Chronicle (places where academics in English look for jobs), and then resorted to Googling for colleges in the area. I was astounded at the number, but began looking through their websites, just hoping for part-time work. I went to the Thomas Aquinas University site and just browsed through the English faculty page. I looked at the faces and suddenly felt compelled to call the chair of the department. Those of you who know me recognize that my calling someone like this, out of the blue, is about as likely as my flying to the moon. The chair was on sabbatical, but was checking voice mail, so I left a message. After a few rounds of voice-mail tag, we finally talked. He didn't have any work for me, but his wife was on the search committee at another school, and the search had ended unsuccessfully. He would pass on my information to them. I thanked him and waited.

I then decided that if the people ever called, they would still need my information, so I put together the usual application stuff and sent it off on a Friday. The following Tuesday I got a call asking me to fly back for an interview. So one week later I was on a plane to Grand Rapids. I interviewed on Wednesday, and today (Friday) the president called and made the offer.

This position is not only an answer to prayer, it is more than I asked for. God not only gave me work, he gave me a tenure-track job in an environment I will love--an art school--and with a lower class load than I have had in too many years to remember. He led me to a place I would not have found, and to a position for which I would not likely have applied because I would have thought myself not what they were looking for. And under different circumstances, they might not ever have asked me to interview if I had applied earlier!

The whole incident reminds me, once again, that "God always gives His best to those who leave the choice to Him." Amen.