Is my value defined by whether I'm standing in front or behind the counter?

Life is so much more than how many letters are after your name in your email signature. In fact, I venture to propose that the more letters, the more insecure you may be about who you are (who decides which letters you put? really...). Sue me if I'm wrong, but this past year has taught me the value of hard-working, lovable, amazing, and crazy individuals who have minimal amounts of letters after their name.

I used to judge retail workers. Yes, it's true. I used to think they were just aimless, not sure what to do with their lives, lazy, and settling for what's in front of them. I have always been a career-minded, goal-oriented, climb-to-the-top girl. Since I was young, I set my sights on having a high academic degree, working in a professional environment, and somehow deriving my purpose and personal satisfaction from said career. Miraculously that was true for 2.5 years of my life.

Funny things happen when you get let go from your job.

Anyone who has been unemployed for ANY length of time (doesn't matter how long, it still sucks) has probably gained a deep sense of humility, perspective, and appreciation for their previous job and jobs in general. It's VERY true that when you don't have something, you realize how precious it was. And sometimes the only way to really see that is to take it away. Remove yourself from the situation. Enter a new one and begin to see where you fit in it all.

Losing my job, being unemployed, and getting a job at Starbucks (did I mention I don't like coffee?) were all surprises in the past year. What I didn't know was that I needed those surprises. Bill Johnson, pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, CA, has said most accurately, and I'm paraphrasing, "Sometimes God takes away what we have because we don't have the foundation to sustain an increase." In the midst of my unemployment, I received a promise that this year was going to be a year of breakthrough. It has, and here's what has broken through.

- I no longer have judgements in my heart about others that probably caused me to be less than appreciative of A HUGE chunk of humanity. I'm a nice person, but with these judgements out of the way, I feel like I can really really really love and appreciate everyone around me, no matter what side of the counter you're on.

- I have developed a new perspective on how to be really myself and how to interact with people different from me. I know that's vague, but I think everyone learns this when they're in any new situation. There's a certain maturity you develop when you have to look at someone, see the differences between yourself and them, and then chose to interact with them in a positive way, respecting their differences.

- I have gained an enormous respect and appreciation for being employed. As I end one job and begin a new one, I realize that it's not about the job title I have, but how I steward the gift and privilege it is to work and feel useful, to work for a living and to gain something from giving something. I also have gained a lot of integrity in this appreciation; making sure everything I do is with excellence and pride.

My job at Starbucks was not just a "chapter" or "season" in my life that I can easily turn the page on and move on. It will always be a part of my life and my story. I see it as a foundation of things to come and will look back on it as a time I really learned how to deal with people. A lot of shaping and sharpening happened beneath the green awnings, and I doubt I'll ever really end that season. Sure, I won't sling lattes and brew coffee, but the relationships and the lessons learned will always be there.

In a way, not much is changing. It's all a part of a great adventure God has me on. All I can say is I'm willing and ready to go wherever He has for me. I know it'll be amazing.