At twenty years of age, newly married, with a baby on the way and working part-time for $1.25 per hour, I was thinking more of short term survival than the future or a career path. I was not thinking of my life as a journey, certainly not a spiritual journey. In those circumstances I was living life like a teenaged driver, driving too fast on unfamiliar roads at night, only able see as far as the headlights allow. The only direction I had was, “keep her between the ditches”. Careening down the road, I took the first turn that came my way.
It was 56 years ago that I walked into the Ford Motor Company Nashville Glass Plant as a new employee. It was both exciting and scary. Getting to work at Ford was a blessing. The opportunity did not come not because I had been recruited for my skills and talents. Joe Clark, a good friend of Ann’s family worked there and had the influence to get me hired. He literally sneaked into the employment office past others waiting for an opportunity to go to work. Ann and I did not have two pennies to rub together. We were living with the Clark’s until we could get on our feet. I guess I couldn’t reach my bootstraps.
For the next 40+ years my life was pretty much defined by “I work at Ford’s”. My work experience was rewarding both materially and personally. I am thankful for the opportunity that came my way and it is good to be reminded that it was only because of the graciousness of others that it was possible.
Not all intersections are opportunities to decide which direction you will take. Sometimes they are a cattle chute. So much for career planning.