Now, at the beginning of 2016 I am on the verge of going back to work. I am going to be working at the Library as a Literacy Assistant.
As I thought and prayed about this job today, I suddenly realized that it appears that I am repeating family history in an odd sort of way.
I remember as a child in Santa Rosa, California, my maternal grandmother, Alta Kerr, worked for the children's department in our local library. It was Grandma Alta that helped me develop a love of books. She introduced me to C.S. Lewis and his book, The Magician's Nephew, where I read about the adventures of Digory and Polly. She also introduced me to Where the Wild Things Are. I loved both of those children's books.
And in a strange way, it seems I am sort of repeating my paternal grandfather's history as well. My grandfather, James Frazer Sr., was an orphan, and (from what I understood) lived between living in an abusive situation with a relative, and being a street kid in Laredo. My knowledge of his history is rather sketchy, but his childhood was terribly hard; that much I do know.
In his youth a Baptist preacher named George Maxim took him in, gave him a job and helped him with his education. Brother George also introduced my grandfather to Jesus. The result was that my Grandpa Frazer was a Baptist preacher himself, especially helping the poorer people of the community of Falfurrias Texas.
Because of Brother George, I have a Christian heritage I treasure and I also have a love to write and create which I treasure. Grandpa Frazer was a poet, and I feel most connected to him.
While I am not sure exactly what I will be doing in this new job, I know it is going to present an opportunity to do for others what Brother George did for my Grandfather. I feel the Lord brought me to this job at just the right time for me.
I have to admit that from 2012 I have enjoyed every day of my unemployment even though we've had to make cut backs. As I said earlier, the Lord made provisions for us, and this job is just another example of His provisions; but I believe the Lord not only helps us as individuals, but the help He gives to us also benefits others. I am praying that my execution of my duties as a Literacy Assistant helps awaken a latent creativity in someone else, as Brother
George's influence awoke creativity in my grandfather.
As I have enjoyed my time unemployed, I am now eagerly looking forward to starting this new job. It's time. I have loved being alone, I am now ready to be among people again.
This new job doesn't mean I will not continue to pursue the making of our film, Shots in the Dark, it only means that I will be working as well as making the movie. With God, all things are possible. Because of that, I know our movie, too, will be accomplished.
And so I sing, with Gene Autry, "Whoptee ti I oh, it's back to work I go, back in the saddle again".