The road less traveled.**

So I was supposed to find a new job. 

My dad’s message when I graduated: to never quit a job before you find a new (and better) one. Over the years I’ve followed that religiously. I’ve been blessed to move from one job to another getting better pay or perks or both. Then as if my luck has run out I lost my job last month. I don’t want to panic, but deep down I felt it. It was just not the right timing, the fact that I’m already in the phase where I’m skilled, experienced, but the employment market isn’t very friendly and most companies prefer to hire cheaper staff who has less skill and experience.

Timing, oh how important it is. So to avoid panic I decided to look at other possibilities. Isn’t it that when God closes one door there must be another door (or even a window) is opened? What options do I have? Of course #1 would be finding a new job. What are the other options? I could travel, for one. I could go back to school. I could start my own business. So many things. Just thinking about them makes me excited.

I chose to do the odd, the least chosen one. That is to do voluntary work. Ever since I graduated I the tug to do this, but wasn’t sure when, what and how. For quite some time I’ve heard stories about refugees looking for a new country they could adopt, start fresh, with high hopes of getting better life. I’ve seen reports on TV how people are being displaced and they have to struggle to get admitted in another country. And they are many here in this country, in fact in Bali there’s a place for them. So that's where my heart was directed. I would like to meet them, one way or the other.

After going through the registration process and got the approval I had my first visit to the detention center. Honestly it was unnerving for me at first; I felt guilty and asked for God’s forgiveness. They’re not criminals; the crime they did was not having proper documents and/or didn’t go through the proper channel to enter another country.

So I had my first encounter with the folks there. They sure were an interesting bunch. The kids seemed so friendly and excited to meet new person. I looked forward to working with them, to spend time with them and be their friend.

I’m not going to fool myself that at some point I need to go back to the “normal” corporate world and earn what I used to earn, but I haven’t set the deadline yet. I know God will provide. If this is the biggest thing that would “friggin’ frighten myself”, I’m going to wait it out and see how long I’m frightened. And even if later I turn back and can only sigh at the choice I made, I know somehow, there’s something from it made a difference, if it is just myself.

** Inspired by Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken".