Life has a tendency to hit you with some amazingly profound blows from time to time. A span of about six weeks has caused me to run the emotional and spiritual gauntlet from top to bottom and front to back.
First, but certainly not foremost, I was informed that after seven years on the job my position was being eliminated. The losing of my job wasn't the end of the world, but the uncertainty of the future and doubt of providing for my family loomed very large. These were precarious times to say the least.
I must tell of the instant karma that took place the last day on the job. (Side note: I have always believed that all things will come back to you both good and bad.) I had been driving to my job every day for over six years taking the exact same route of Interstate 55 to Lindbergh and on to South County Mall. Same time every day, routine, boring.
The first week I was approached on the off-ramp by a homeless man begging for anything he could get his hands on. Now, knowing the adage of "feed a stray he will always come back" blah-blah-blah, I promptly pretended to get something out of my glove box or read the paper or just look away etc., etc. Every day for over six years. Not very Christian of me, I know, but I am merely human.
The last day on the job I encounter the same man and feel a sudden pang of extreme guilt and decide, last day and all, that I must do something. Money was not a good choice; enabling the man's obvious addictions did not sit well with me. I decided to reverse course and head north to Bayless and get the fellow a 10-pack of tacos and soda from the Taco Bell. The look of gratitude on his face almost made up for the years of snubbing and coldness I so graciously provided.
Feeling like a human being, I walked to the all purpose kiosk at the mall and purchased myself a Missouri Lottery Scratchers ticket to test the positive vibe I was currently experiencing. Lo and behold. I was rewarded with a tidy $5,000 instant winner. Go figure. Karma, perhaps?
The bad of losing my job and the jolt of happy from the instant karma came to an abrupt and horrific conclusion. The emotions were replaced with bottomless grief at the recent passing of my big brother, Lee.
The devastation to me and my close-knit family was beyond description. We must go on. Lee's passing did bring a very close family even closer and for that I thank him. We will not forget you, Lee!
Just recently I took my 4-year-old son, Pierce, to visit my childhood friend and his newborn baby at the hospital. The look of joy on my friend's face, the proud grand parents, the beaming new mother and the curious innocence of my own precious boy brought a pent up flood of emotion and I had to excuse myself. I broke down on the elevator. Pierce asking if I was all right, only made it worse. I composed myself immediately and reassured Pierce of his father's strength.
I have found a job better than the last and we're back on track. All things full circle. We're born, we die, whatever we do between is going to keep coming back to us, that's for sure. Oh yeah, I saw a homeless man on the way to my new job today, I threw him a buck. You never know, right?
Tim Johnson is a food and beverage manager, an avid poker player and a sports fanatic. He also is the son of Michael Johnson.
