Job Job Job

Let's be serious... the job search is on everyone's mind. Even those fortunate to have offers which they have accepted (or plan to accept) have invariably been brought in to help the rest of us land our dream jobs. For the first years out there, this past week brought the first push of the dog and pony show that is recruiting at Darden.

If you missed hearing Craig Colberg on Tuesday, I'm going to attempt to recap a little bit about godly goals and godly desires, specifically as they relate to recruiting.

Godly goals are those which honour God, and are in our power to achieve. Godly desires are things that we want, but are out of our control.

The job search can be viewed through the lens of godly goals and desires. I don't think there's anything wrong with desiring to land a job which allows us to gain influence and be in a position for God to use us. That would be the godly desire. We may even have more specific desires related to how we want God to specifically use our gifts, talents and experiences. There is nothing wrong with having these desires. We just need to recognize that while we can work hard to achieve them, we can't control the outcomes.

What we can control, however, is our own goals throughout the search process. We can choose goals such as learning to trust God's plan, being a person of integrity, committing to learn more about the job search process, honouring others through the process, and maintaining hope. These are things which, regardless of where we end up working, we can always control.

Water Into Wine

The first miracle Jesus performed was turning water into wine.

For many, this miracle may sound frivolous at first pass, and may even offend our conservative values. But a quick history of Jewish weddings and culture reveals the significance of this first miracle.

Weddings were a big deal in first-century Jewish culture. It was a family's moment to shine and lasted for days. It was shameful to run out of wine or food at such occasions. When the wedding Jesus attended began to run low on wine, it wasn't an inconvenience, it was a complete and utter shame.

There are two things that stand out to me every time I read this story. The first is that the master of the banquet complimented the host on bringing out the best wine last. What this tells me is that God wants the best for us. Jesus' miracle would have been miraculous enough if he would have simply created wine from water. But God doesn't do anything "good enough," He desires the very best for us. So as we look for God's direction through our year at Darden and in our upcoming careers (and lives!), we should learn to expect the best. I can say from personal experience, that even though I had a run-out-of-wine situation in my life last year, God's plan worked out and it was amazing.

The other lesson from this story is one that really hit home during a sermon from a few weeks ago. Jesus met the host of the feast at his very moment of shame and redeemed it. This has two implications for us. First, whatever our "shames" are in life, we need to trust that when we bring them to God, he brings healing, glory and redemption.

The other implication is that we need to look for where God can use us to turn water into wine. Our classmates are each going through their own struggles, whether it's as simple as DA classes, as existential as "what do I want to do with my life", or something as deep and hidden as past hurts. As tempting as it may be to simply keep our heads above water getting through school involvement, classes and recruiting, we need to be looking to where we can play a part into turning water into wine.

Surviving and Thriving at Darden

It was only a year ago that I finished my first week at Darden, but it feels much, much longer ago than that. Watching all the First Years in the halls takes me back to the start of the crazy adventure that has been Darden.

This week, I am gearing the devotional specifically toward the first year students, though hopefully there is value to be gleaned for everyone. Without further adieu, I present my biblically-rooted tips for surviving at Darden.

• Observe the sabbath... Deuteronomy 5:12

The biggest temptation you'll face at Darden will be to work too hard. The truth is that there is ALWAYS more to do: more analysis on a case, more social events to attend, more tweaking that can be done on your resume and more networking calls to make. My Sabbath manifested itself in two ways last year: I went to bed by midnight, even if there was more case work to do; and I took Saturdays off during the first three quarters (switched to Sunday after LT ended). The Sabbath may look different for everyone, whether it's taking a break to go for a run or setting aside time to read your Bible. Whatever it is that recharges you, though, make sure to do it! I promise; it will make the rest of your time more productive.

• I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made... Psalm 139:14

My first few months at Darden were incredibly humbling. I was suddenly not the smartest person in the room, I struggled through recruiting, and it took a while to find my grounding in the classroom. Worship services on Sunday morning at church became absolutely vital to me. I stood with a congregation of people singing songs about how awesome God is, and that gave me the perspective that I needed to realize that it's not about me, it's about bringing glory to Him. And beyond that, I needed to remind myself that no matter where I fall on the spectrum - whether I'm the most capable or the least - God created me in my own special way to be used as He chooses for His glory.

• If one falls down, his friend can help him up... Ecclesiastes 4:10

One of the greatest blessings during my first year at Darden was having a friend who shared my faith. Our friendship was one of mutual encouragement and sacrifice and kept me going on days when I didn't feel like reading another LO case or submitting yet another cover letter. I encourage you to seek out close friendships at Darden, and know that the best kind of friendships are the ones that you pour into. I know this sounds like something you need to learn at kindergarten and not the start of your MBA, but I can't emphasize how important it is to develop mutually encouraging relationships. Ultimately, I hope that DCF can provide a forum for you to do that, and encourage you to reach out if you ever need anything.

Anyway, those are my first year survival tips. Hope you enjoy this well-earned weekend!

Small Groups

Men's Small Group: Wednesdays, 1:30 to 2:30

Women's Small Group: Thursdays, 1:30 to 2:30

Intro to Christianity: Thursdays, 1:30 to 2:30

Small groups will begin the week of September 6.

Opening BBQ

Mark your calendars:

DCF will be hosting a welcome BBQ on Friday, September 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. in Flagler Courtyard. Bring your families for food, fun and fellowship. We'll be heading over to someone's apartment to play games after the BBQ, so feel free to join! Details and meeting request will be sent to all club members after the Club Fair.

Other dates to note:

• Club Fair: Tuesday, August 24 from 6 to 7 p.m. in Flagler Courtyard... Come out and meet us!
• Opening Meeting: Wednesday, August 25 from 5 to 5:30 p.m. in Classroom 140... Come hear what's planned for the year, and what's on the agenda for small groups.