by B. J. Beauchamp
My mother thought perhaps she should have named me Grace, and not because my grandmother’s middle name was Grace, but that if she had, then at least I’d have had some sort of grace even if in name only.
Grace to me is something that is as elusive as the “purple squirrels” that human resource executives are told to look for by employers: the non-existent candidates who can do several jobs combined into one, such as being able to fix a computer, analyze and audit a budget, write a compelling tale of the company’s rise to dominance using only a string and a paper clip, all while putting out a fire in the records department.
I’m not looking for divine grace, although that wouldn’t hurt. What I mean is mercy, as in the type any human could give – the compassionate treatment of those in distress. Lots of people need that kind of grace every day. Yes it is just life, but it doesn’t mean that if you’re not stoic at all times people have the right to head butt you for having a moment of sadness and for giving in to the fact that life simply sucks for you at this moment.
Recently I had a meeting with a human resources person who was dressed on a Tuesday like it was a very casual Friday. I should back up here to say that this person was meeting with me because someone of influence, and a friend of mine, told them they should meet with me (and hire).
The first thing the person said to me was, “so who was it that you came through”? The HR person then said that I need not give her my letters of references and recommendations as the HR desk already had too much paper, but if it was needed I’d be asked to submit it later. Over the next ten minutes my resume was ripped to shreds and I was told that I should go back to school for a degree, and that no one would hire me in a lesser position than I had previously held even if I were willing to shift to a new area or division. I left the studio lot rejected and depressed.
Fortunately, right after the meeting I was having lunch with a friend who also was a former boss of mine. My friend is and has always been a clear thinker and wise beyond…me. So my friend reminded me of all the people we knew who sported richer pedigrees, held masters and/or law degrees, had many awards and were getting the same treatment I was receiving. This was just business and the normal crappy treatment that is all too common in the current economy (and Hollywood folks in general).
I advised the person who had arranged the meeting of what had happened, just for future reference, and he asked for my approval to call the HR person and rip her a brand new… well, to tell them off. I thought about it, and yeah, the HR person was a stinker to me and unnecessarily so. But I told my friend that I had no idea what burden that HR person was carrying that day but that I did not want to add to it.
Being unemployed is not the end of the world. It can be an end to homeownership, a way of life, relationships, and health care coverage, but it is not the end of the world. I do feel fortunate that I don’t have any life-threatening illnesses (knock on wood), but I know many people without health care coverage do. That would pretty much end things, except sometimes people find grace, and I mean they find help in a time of need.
I certainly am rich in friends. Perhaps that is the grace I’ve received. I absolutely look upon my friends and family as blessings.
Perhaps the key to receiving grace is to give it. Before I finish I would like to provide you with links to tales being told of grace being given and received – because sometimes we just need reminders of it. It does exist.
Grace to you.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2010/10/virginia-paca.html
http://work.ocregister.com/2010/08/20/work-unemployed-educator-learns-a-lesson/3303/
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/-267071–.html
What you thought grace was only needed by humans… http://www.ocregister.com/news/rescue-270410-dog-group.html