Blinded by My Resume
Today I looked at my resume for the first time in nine years. (Insert a blinding glare as I try to gaze into the past). Blindness. I can’t see anything as I’m reading it, because I am overwhelmed by the professional genesis - the initial version of my adult-self. She truly exhausts me. I’m surpised it doesn’t say that I was a professional plate spinner, because reviewing this Betsy Harvey I’m reading about EXHAUSTS ME as I read the details.
It’s really overwheming to read, which is proof that it needs a legitimate makeover. My resume shows that I did SO much in a short period of two decades. I mean, it was a quite a career and sometimes I deeply miss it: the relationships, the business deals and branding creative brainstorms, traveling and dinners, and the chance to make a difference in organizations I deeply believed in.
How on God’s beautiful earth did I have the stamina? Well, I know the truth is that God equipped me wherever I was called, but it’s mind blowing to review it. Not because I’m some incredible person - let’s just get that out of the way - but because I did A LOT. When did I slow down (practically never). It’s also no wonder that it took me until my late 30s to be open to marriage to the person God called me to meet - the right person - and to be ready for motherhood (if you’re ever really ready!).
Honestly, I just want my resume to read like my social media - light (most of the time), cheerful, light-bearing, helpful and enthusiastic, but it feels sterile in words when there was actually a lot of joy, wonder, and adventure in those years.
Why the sudden glance at my resume? For the past five years, we’ve been in such a transitional phase of life. that I needed a good reminder of my professional experiences and roots - how I served and put them into action - because I feel God nudging me to the next opportunity to serve alongside my home.
When we moved from Atlanta to the Philadelphia suburbs. I left my roots and have been establishing new ones after the devastating loss of three parents in 18 months immediately after our move to a new region, new church, new school, and did I mention the Pandemic and still getting settled into an old home that feels like the ultimate modular jigsaw puzzle? Phew. I know. It’s a lot. That’s why it’s an unedited sentence that is too long - apropos for those years. Off-form.
Yet, in the midst of the grief, frustration, life transition challenges, and so many “unexpecteds”, there has been a tremendous amount of light and awareness.
I’m grateful for multiple hurdles, heartaches, and harried moments as they have transformed me to realize that those angsts would be someone else’s blessings. Mic drop. Truth bomb.
I crave a slower pace and time to BE in my life rather than OF it. Being still is everything. It gives me time to listen and really make choices aligned with what my call is, rather than outside pressures.
I’m growing to love the kinks in my home. It’s a container that holds my heart: my husband, my boys, and our memories.
I’m accepting that I’m getting older (awesomely, I might add) and while I’m healthier than ever, I’m still aging in ways I didn’t see coming (insert heavy sigh about character lines and hello clean eating and healthy routines).
I’m more aware of my health needs: spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically and they are non-negotiable ways that I keep my body strong for the fight of this life to be whole, holy, and healthy.
I am deeply aware of who my dearest circle of friends are.
My faith is deeper and richer.
I am fully aware that every professional experience has equipped me for moments at home and always will give me a blueprint for problem solving, resourcefulness (aka: doing amazing things without spending a dime), zest for adventure, travel and new foods, and ultimately to lower my expectations of others and simply meet them where they are.
See? Work does give us insight into parenthood, and vice versa!
I’m more in love with my husband than ever (yes, you heard that right and please keep in mind that marriage is a lifelong calling that requires a ton of work - and it’s worth it even when it’s hard).
I’m also so into my children even though I wish someone would make technology go away, as it is the thief I argue with the most.
I’ve had the epiphany of awareness that I am not at all the woman that I used to be or that my resume says I am. It’s all good. Those were the stepping stones and avenues to the path I will be on and the experiences that I can bring into service. But plate spinning Betsy - so sorry - but she has retired. Thank the good Lord for that. Seriously.
I have been exploring where God is calling me and that’s what led me to my resume…and the realization that the life I led was seemingly so exciting - and I had amazing work experiences, teams, and priveleges that do not come without tremendous hard work, gratitude, and grit.
At the same time…
Crazy is as crazy does, goes the saying, and it’s 100% accurate. If we lead our life like the world calls us – to have it all – to go-go-go –then yes, we will be steeped in chaos and frustration and angst. I know this well, because I have been through anxiety and the secular life’s terrible grip.
I know what it’s like to get pulled in so many directions that my family doesn’t get the best of me much less the kinder more patient version. That’s not okay. God first, my marriage, my children - then everything else. Priorities are very clear.
On the other side of this crazy I mention above and saying a vehement NO to crazy offers a peace, a calm, a kindness to others and self, and a rooted knowing that saying No is really saying YES to God’s great call for us - that there is truly peace that passes understanding and a hope that is available to each and every one of us if we allow it.
The Big H.S. – the Holy Spirit – a nickname I love to give this BFF of mine – is the ultimate guide to hope, inner peace, and dismissing the lies and messages of the world and the enemy that says more is better, crazy is cool, and not taking care of ourselves in the right way is the way.
The WAY is only ONE WAY.
That ONE WAY is UP.
It’s through our faith.
It’s living a life in a blessed union with the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
It starts from the inside out.
It will never matter what or who our resume and experiences says we are, because it’s pretty simple.
We are beautifully and uniquely created children of God, daughters and sons of Christ, and bearers of light through the Holy Spirit. As His children, he has given us unique gifts, talents and skills that we GET to share.
With that, we have confidence, no fear, hope, joy, faith and an inner knowing that all WILL be okay and that no matter what our to dos may be or what our accomplishments are, we are SIMPLY MADE.
We are SIMPLY MADE to be in service to the world for Him, by Him and in His great power.
Resumes are a list of things we have done in service to our gifts and talents, but the real work of life is our relationship with God and how we live it out in our daily interactions within our families and others.
THAT, my dear friends, is the most important thing we need on our resumes.
While our skills are gifts alongside our talents, for what purpose are we using them, serving others, and putting them into action? That’s a question that I’m hoping that you can join me in prayer to help discover the answers.
I will be praying that we take our faith and knowledge of being simply made into hopefully drafting a SIMPLY resume that expresses the enthusiasm and light God is always asking me to share.