.It was hard for me to imagine that the pranking was intimidation, but David believed it was. I looked at it as just another day at work and with the down time, young guys goofing off. I was able to complete one full semester at school and knocked out three class requirements. I felt on top of my world, but ended up taking a tumble when just before Christmas I was laid off. I was not expecting it. The wind was taken out of my sails for sure. .I had to collect unemployment, and because I was with the UAW, I got sub pay.
. Being laid off didn’t effect me taking classes, but how my schedule changed would. After collecting unemployment for a month I was offered two positions by the company. One was on the day shift at my current pay grade. The other, was on the midnight shift but at a lower pay grade. It was an easy decision for me to make at the time. I was attending full time classes during the day. I had to choose the midnight shift. I had a full schedule now.
.My social life, or what was left of it, went out the door quickly. I was loved, lied to, played and betrayed by friends as I completed my second semester. Some felt I had changed. Our orbits would never be the same from this point on. I was very much on a learning pilgrimage, and wanted to enjoy the journey. I would be unfettered. Making new friends was not a problem for me. Having the time to enjoy that friendship was. What I didn’t realize then was my life’s journey was being directed. God had a plan for me. I was just too immature spiritually to recognize it.
. I ran into David on campus and told him what had happened at work and how I ended up taking a job on the midnight shift so I could finish my classes during the day. Even though it paid me at a lower rate, it was still more money than my unemployment, and sub pay. I was being used as a utility worker and would work where ever the foreman needed me. I even got to see the employees who I believed were pranking us. They were waiting on parts to fill their production quotas.
. The first thing they asked me was how I knew you? They were hanging out together at one of the large milling machines. I just shook my head and kept walking ignoring what ever they were saying. I really couldn’t hear them because of the stamping presses, but by their facial expressions, and gesturing they didn’t seem happy .The foreman motioned me to another area. I was glad to follow him. He told me they were “assholes” but I really didn’t know why he was saying that, and I didn’t ask him. It must have been derogatory. I thought oh well, another day, and another dollar. At the time I was young and I didn’t care what others thought of me. ... My Life Journey continued.. JAMES 1: 19-27
MJ-Way 