A Successful Sushi Chef

A couple of weeks ago I was talking to a friend / coworker before leaving the office for the day. We were talking about how much our lives had changed over just the last few years. As we were exchanges stories about our pasts it ended up being a good time of reflection for us both. It was a great remember of where we both had come from. I can remember silently thanking God during this conversation, because he brought me through some rough times. Without God being involved in my life in a great way, I have no idea where I would have been today, not writing this, I'm certain of that!As my friend and I continued our conversation he told me about a time when he felt that he had hit rock bottom in his life. He was in a rough season of life and at that point he was in a job that he knew he didn't want to be working in. He was a Sushi Chef which he explained was not something that he had ever desired to do; he just needed something. The fact that this is the season and story that my friend told as his "rock bottom" time of his life really surprised me because that "rock bottom" story happening in his life was the only reason we were having that conversation at all...Just a few years ago I was in charge of an inventory project that my company was doing. I was responsible for every part of it including hiring staff for the project. Like many job postings, I received hundreds of resumes to review. I was quickly scanning through each resume, just looking for 5-10 to stand out with the right experience so I could bring them in for interviews. As I was going through resume after resume, I saw something different on one of them; "Sushi Chef." This caught my eye, I'm pretty sure I said "Sweet!" out loud in my office. I decided to bring this individual in for an interview just so I could ask them about being a Sushi Chef. I had never met a Sushi Chef before and I wanted to know what it was like, plus I needed a break from interview after interview of the same thing.

Every season of life is important because it is what leads you to the next. Everything happens for a reason.

This Sushi Chef not only brought some insight on making sushi to my life, but it turns out he was also a valid candidate for the job! He ended up getting hired and years later (and a few promotions later) he is now a successful engineer within the organization. I love this story because it is a reminder that all seasons that we go through hold some level of importance. For this friend and coworker of mine, being in a job where he didn't feel much direction was actually the very thing that brought him into a place where he wanted to be.This story is such a great reminder for all of our lives! God says in Jeremiah 29:11, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." No matter what each of us may be going through in our unique journey of life; stay joyful where you are knowing that every season of your life, no matter how difficult it may be, like the Sushi Chef, is potentially what God could use to get you to a place of passion and fulfillment!