One Year Ago Today...

My friend Kelly Graham was laid off from Lakeview Church. He blogged about the experience today.

I don't ever say much about that day...but maybe it's time I did. It was awful. I was angry and confused and broken hearted and I felt betrayed. I loved the church and the job and the Upper Room and the people I got to work with and minister to. Some people don't know this but Brooke and I were going to go that night and meet with our realtor and make an offer to buy a house...exciting. Instead I had to tell my wife that I lost my job.

I remember the day well. A couple other people were laid off from Lakeview that week. It seems a lot longer than a year ago. Being let go at a church is a lot different than a lot of other jobs. I think one invests more of themselves in a church context and to be cut of from that, is really hard. Kelly and Brooke have gone on from that to a great ministry in the Dominican Republic. I hung out with Kelly and Brooke at Christmas and I miss them a lot. Kelly and I had the worst hotel experience ever last summer (can't give out any details, too horrible) and I miss having him around. Along with Mike Gingerich, Kelly is one of the few people I know who can pull out obscure sports references to little known NFL quarterbacks that no one has ever heard of. I miss working with him and having him around Saskatoon a lot. Our friends Todd and Korina Peters are in the Dominican Republic visiting them for a couple of weeks (or longer). I wish I was there.