"... it ’ s a pretty humble job ; but it ’ s socially redeeming and a key link in the life chain of a disabled person ."
Faith & daily life
At the heart of our faith is the belief that God meets us where we are in all the places and relationships in which we live , work , play and relate . We pray , support and encourage one another as we grow deeper in faith and learn to trust God with our whole lives . Some of us are new on the journey ; others have been at it for awhile . All of us can find inspiration and hope in the stories of our fellow travelers . FAITH & DAILY LIFE will be featured monthly with stories of God at work in YOUR life .
Let Go and Let God ... by Carl Monson
Faith has always called me to service , as it did for my parents , my brothers , and my sister . It drives us and it ’ s just part of who we are .
I have been a MetroMobility driver on a full time basis since 2008 and part time for ten years before that . I had been a nursing home administrator and thought I was both satisfied and fulfilled , but that pales in comparison to the satisfaction and fulfillment I get from providing transportation to disabled clientele . For the first time in my life I feel truly appreciated in the workplace , and that ’ s why I feel called to do this job .
In the scheme of things , it ’ s a pretty humble job ; but it ’ s socially redeeming and a key link in the life chain of a disabled person . Everybody ’ s disability is different so living life to the fullest extent possible is also different for each of them . The one thing they all have in common is they can ’ t do it without transportation and that keeps me going .
Carl Monson with one of his many friends .
"... it ’ s a pretty humble job ; but it ’ s socially redeeming and a key link in the life chain of a disabled person ."
I work long hours ; at least fifty hours a week and sometimes sixty , but I ’ m not complaining . I ’ m tired at the end of the day , especially when it involves driving all day in the rain or in a snowstorm . But I always sleep it off and am ready to give it another go again the next morning . I meet and interact with a lot of great people ; people who are always trying to push themselves beyond their limitations . It helps me to realize that my problems are trivial by comparison .
I have worked a number of Thanksgiving Days . You ’ re only doing the fun stuff that day ; taking people to family gatherings . Families fall all over themselves to let you know how much they appreciate that you are working that day and they ’ re gracious too . I ’ ve never failed to be fed at one stop or another . One year three families fed me !
It ’ s never too late to make changes in your life to increase your satisfaction with the journey . I was fifty five when I figured it out . It was sobering to realize that I had spent thirty five years working in careers I wasn ’ t suited for or happy with . There was a lot of soul searching involved . And a lot of “ let go and let God .”
Next month : Linda Madson from the Minneapolis campus .
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