For me this would qualify as a leap of faith. I decided to change jobs this week. I have not changed employers in over 18 years. I began with a good Louisiana bank, Hibernia, when we still lived in a New Orleans suburb, my daughter was a kindergarten student and my son was a high schooler. Our move to the Northshore was both personal and professional, the bank wanted to transfer me to Slidell as we were moving to Abita Springs. It was as if God's hand was at work making this transition smooth. In 1999, the bank decided to close down my lending division but I was immediately picked up to join the retail staff for the entire Northshore. In one capacity or another I was able to travel everywhere we had a branch and make friends with a whole bunch of people. From Franklinton to Madisonville from Slidell to Bogalusa and all points in between, I represented the bank while developing business. I became quite the yacht expert, financing millions of dollars in amazing purchases of exquisite boats. I was the life insurance expert for loan protection and loved any opportunity to train. In 2005 the visit from Hurricane Katrina impacted our lives and my career, along with that of many co-workers. We could only reopen a few branches in the weeks post-Katrina and often those of us who made it back were crowded into a few branches doing the best we could. Many never came back and we struggled to reopen at least one branch. Even though these were difficult times, they really helped us form "team".
Earlier that very same year the announcement was made that our Louisiana based bank was purchased by a large financial institution with a national brand. In 2006 we indeed transitioned to Capital One. Things were smooth at first, and only got a little more hectic when Capital One began to grow exponentially. In those first days as Capital One I was stationed in Covington and worked with a great team and made at least 2 dear friendships that will endure forever. It would be 3 years later that I returned to Mandeville, taking on a business only focus and flourished. And then direction and imperatives changed and I found myself, for the first time in a long time, with a decision; a tough decision. Let me fast forward. I just simply believe that it is time for me to return to a more local, Louisiana bank. So this week I resigned and accepted a position with FNBC Bank.
Enthusiasm for this change is high for sure. But leaving the place I've called home away from home for 18 years was tough. In this departure I really was not afforded an opportunity to adequately say good bye to the myriads of people whose lives collided with mine. Suffice to say, just saying good bye to those present today was tough enough.
I turned to God in prayer a lot these last few weeks and asked Him to help me see the wisdom in leaving that which I know, warts and all, for that which I only perceive. As the days drew on, we arrived at this past weekend's readings at Mass. What stuck out to me: we walk by faith not by sight. While surely not intended for a middle aged dude deciding on a job change I was struck at how those words of St. Paul kept resonating with me. As I approached the weekend, I was charged with the task of preaching and stayed focused on those words from our 2nd reading. Not leading with the Gospel passages is something I can probably count on 1 hand in my 4 years of preaching. But walking by faith not by sight kept speaking to me. And it kept on speaking to me right up to that moment in time I needed to decide on changing jobs.
Today was my last day at Capital One. After 18+ years, change is upon me. My daughter is a post graduate student now, my son a veterinarian, and soon to be new daddy. My wife and I are 35 years married now and 17 years living "across the lake". And I am soon to be a new employee of my new adventure. Thankfully, my faith in God and His Church is so much stronger than that day in 1994 when I accepted that job offer from Hibernia. And it is that faith that I will rely on heavily in these days ahead. As I enter the doors of FNBC, I will be walking by faith, not by sight.
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