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That initial contact came from an executive recruiter, who was looking for the right person to fill their organization’s Vice President of Human Resources role. “Maybe this is the right exit for me from NASA.” After all, in November 2018, I celebrated 25 years of federal service, which meant that I could take an “early retirement”—essentially a small annuity along with continuing our great health benefits.
So, I dusted off my resume and requested my early retirement estimates from NASA. It all seemed to be coming together. Then a week passed without a follow-up call from the recruiter. Another week passed. “That’s strange,” I thought…
I decided to update my LinkedIn profile and started looking for other opportunities. There were a few Vice President of Human Resources jobs with a number of Houston-area companies…and another good-looking opportunity with a large non-profit organization. I submitted applications and wrote cover letters. I got one call back, “Do you have Global experience?” “No, NASA is part of the U.S. Government.” “Sorry, we’re looking for someone with global experience.” Many of the job advertisements sought people with 15 years of experience. So, I was considered “over-qualified” (and likely over-compensated) for their needs. Hmmm…
In November, our NASA HR team had a big meeting at Tyson’s Corner, Virginia. Our Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer approached me and said that if our Chief Human Capital Officer moved from his position and she was promoted, she wanted me to serve as her Deputy. I responded, “Wow, that would be great; but you know I can’t move from Houston, right. Oh, and I can’t really travel any more than I do for my current role (once per month).” She nodded, and we both agreed to think about it further. Frankly, I put it out of my mind, thinking there were too many constraints for me to serve in that role.
On the flight home from Houston, as I was thinking about next steps, I asked God, “Why can’t I at least get an interview somewhere?” Then, very distinctly, I heard His response, “If I wanted you to be somewhere else, don’t you think I can make that happen? Is your faith so small that you don’t believe I can put you where I want you?” Wow, that was convicting… I had to admit that my faith really was lacking, and I was trying to control my future, thinking I knew what was best for me.
Meanwhile, God had impressed on me that Psalm 23 should be my blog focus for 2020, and I read Dallas Willard’s Life Without Lack—describing the contentment we should find in God.
Then, I read Boyd Bailey’s Wisdom Hunters’ devotional on Psalm 23:1-3. He explained, “The Bible often uses sheep and shepherding imagery, with us as the sheep and the Lord as our Good Shepherd. Interestingly, the Bible never makes the point that we are stupid like sheep. You and I are made in the image of God and share in his very likeness, yet we are in desperate need of someone to lead us, and active and intentional leading is precisely what a faithful shepherd is called to do.
I admit that my severely limited experience with livestock distorts my understanding of the shepherd’s role. I think of shepherds as fairly passive people, taking a nap under a tree on a sleepy afternoon while the sheep graze idly in the field. If I’m honest, poems like Psalm 23 play into this vision, with its singsong poetry that calms and soothes the soul, causing me to miss the fundamentally active nature of that psalm: ‘he leads me beside still waters.’
A shepherd’s primary job is one of leading, guiding, and protecting those under their care. From the sheep’s perspective, this may often feel confusing and even frustrating, yet if we believe that the shepherd is good and trustworthy, he will lead us to places that we, in and of ourselves, are unable to go. He will show us streams of living water that we would never have known existed had he not led us there.”
Boy, I needed that reminder. Plus, it was time for me to consider my One Word for 2020. I have followed Jon Gordon’s advice (here’s a link to his book One Word That Will Change Your Life) since 2018. That year, I picked the word Optimism. That was before my promotion to my current role, and at the end of 2017, it was clear that HR at NASA was in for significant changes. It was equally unclear what the future held for me at that point both at work and at home with Katy’s impending departure to college in 2018. So, I chose the word Optimism as my focus.
2018 answered some of those questions, as I stepped into a new role, I found myself (like Solomon) requesting Wisdom. So, I studied the Proverbs throughout 2019 and made Wisdom my One Word focus last year.
This year, my One Word is “Sheep”, as I learn from Psalm 23 throughout the year, recognizing my need for the Good Shepherd to guide me throughout the year.
Just to finish the story, a few weeks ago, I got another call from our Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer. Our Chief Human Capital Officer was indeed promoted, and she asked me to be her Deputy. She had given our previous conversation much thought and figured out a way to meet the needs in Washington, D.C. while allowing me to remain in Houston with limited travel. In fact, she wanted me to keep my current role while also serving as her Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer. That option never would have crossed my mind! I’m so glad I finally gave up control…
So, I start 2020 as NASA’s Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer—and while I haven’t confirmed this, I may be the only one working outside of Washington, D.C.!
What if my story hadn’t ended this way? Could I be content whatever the circumstance…as the apostle Paul put it in Philippians 4:11b-13, “I have learned to be content in any circumstance. I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.”
For me, that answer solely rests on my focus. Am I focused on myself and my circumstances? Or am I focused on The Good Shepherd—Jesus Christ—and looking to Him for guidance, relying on Him to meet my needs. This year, I’ll try the latter by studying Psalm 23. For my study, I’ll use these three books throughout the year:
Phillip Keller’s A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23
Max Lucado’s Traveling Light: The Promise of Psalm 23
Robert J. Morgan’s The Lord is My Shepherd: Resting in the Peace & Power of Psalm 23
As Jesus Christ put it in John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” May we all take the time to listen to the voice of our Shepherd, and follow His direction for our lives, as we shoot for the stars!
As for me, I plan to be His Sheep in 2020!