When I shopped for a new business computer a few weeks ago, aside of the basics of RAM, hard drive and processor speed I had one other primary requirement. Without it, no matter the alluring price and mouth-watering features, I would reject it.
It must have an optional downgrade.
My business applications aren’t grown up enough to run on Windows 7 yet. I require old reliable, Windows XP.
As I worked with retailers over the phone in search of my downgraded machine, I could hear their eyes roll into their head when I said, “Okay, one more thing.”
The consistent response: “Sure, whatever you need. Just don’t ask me for XP.”
I asked anyway.
Eventually I found one. My shiny new Dell (still available with the downgrade, if anyone is looking) is on its way.
I will confess the “move backward to move forward” process left my straight line, orderly mind just over on the mushy side.
::
I’m reading John D. Beckett’s Loving Monday as part of an ongoing discussion over at High Calling Blogs. As I read the first three chapters this week, I saw the “move backward” play out in Beckett’s life as he left a promising and exciting career in the aerospace industry to join his father’s oil burner business. Beckett walked away from a high-profile industry to work alongside his dad in the family business, a company of twelve employees.
Sure, the book jacket will tell us that R. W. Beckett Corp. is now one of the world’s “leading manufacturers of residential and commercial heating systems.”
But Beckett couldn’t have known that then. I’m not even sure, at least from the first few chapters, that he dreamed of attaining that status.
He said Yes to the optional downgrade because “the prospect of working together with Dad was irresistible.”
When his father died unexpectedly, his mother encouraged him to decline offers from other companies to purchase the business, even if his leadership of the company failed.
::
I recently had the opportunity to upgrade. When my company reorganized the division I worked in, I could have gone along. I could have advanced in my career, and moved my family to a bigger life in a bigger city with a bigger salary.
But God pointed to the glossy ad with the optional downgrade.
He planted and rooted us here, where life is smaller, where we find relationships in our work and out-of-work that are irresistible.
I find some reassurance in these chapters that following logical, pre-established career paths isn’t always the right answer. Sometimes, yes.
Sometimes.
But other times, the intangible rewards we find in relationship make the downgrade the irresistible offer.
::
For more discussion on Loving Monday, check out Laura’s post today at High Calling Blogs. Want to join in? Chase the widget at the HCB post to Amazon or download an eBook for free at Beckett’s website.
14 responses so far ↓
L.L. Barkat // 2010/02/08 at 10:28 AM |
This is what I love about reading together. I didn’t think about this aspect of the opening chapters AT ALL.
But it’s so deep. And I’m glad you lifted it to the surface.
One of my favorite lines here too: “But Beckett couldn’t have known that then.”
Dad // 2010/02/08 at 10:50 AM |
Even with X Ray eyes, Superman doesn’t see into the future. He just has a better view of the present. And that is all we have, a view of the present.
After 70 plus years, I can look back and maybe think about the might-have-beens, or the things that may have been done differently. But the choices were made with only guesses as to what the future would bring. Sometimes it isn’t a choice between upgrades or downgrades (I’m not sure God wants us to go backwards) but just keeping the status quo. Your mom may not totally agree but I can look back with no regrets because God saw to it that it all worked out.
Dad
Kelly Langner Sauer // 2010/02/08 at 11:02 AM |
Not reading the book, just really appreciating this post. Motherhood feels like a bit of a downgrade for me some days, like my health issues and my needing to drop out of school. But even as I walk further into it, I see the price I would have paid if I had not chosen to live this. I would not have real. I wouldn’t have God.
You are so right about relationship.
uberVU - social comments // 2010/02/08 at 11:07 AM |
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by highcallingblog: Lyla from A Different Story shares her perspective on the current book club at @highcallingblog: http://bit.ly/9nWssC...
Tweets that mention Loving Monday: The Optional Downgrade « A Different Story -- Topsy.com // 2010/02/08 at 11:22 AM |
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Glynn Young, thehighcalling and highcallingblog, Kelly Langner Sauer. Kelly Langner Sauer said: RT @highcallingblog: Lyla from A Different Story shares her perspective on the current book club at @highcallingblog: http://bit.ly/9nWssC [...]
laura // 2010/02/08 at 2:43 PM |
I find this post exceedingly touching, Lyla. While I realized the sacrifice Beckett made as I read that part of his story, I think my linear mind downplayed the risk he took.
I’m so glad to be reading this book with you. I just knew you’d open my eyes to some different ways of seeing.
Jennifer @ More Than Just Adam's Rib // 2010/02/08 at 5:42 PM |
I’m really feeling Kelly’s comment about motherhood lately. But for the next 3 weeks, I’m getting a taste of why I don’t want to go back in the form of six different on-site training sessions sans children. I understand the “rewards of relationship” very well–that’s one of the best perks of refusing to upgrade that I’ve found. (Oh, and glad to know it’s not just me who is still refusing to upgrade from XP.)
Solveig Engh // 2010/02/09 at 7:22 AM |
My husband returned to school so he would qualify for a higher paying job. However, after graduating he became a teacher for a much smaller salary. (A career for me wasn’t even a consideration at that point in history.)
Have we regretted it? I don’t think he ever looked back. He found his calling in teaching. I have at times–raising four children was costly. But now that everyone turned out and we’re retired, I wouldn’t have missed our ride for anything.
It sounds presumptious to say it, but God was with us and that made all the difference. And God will be with you, too. There will be trials of faith, but He is with you.
Jennifer Lee // 2010/02/09 at 11:25 AM |
I’m not reading the book, but am rather intrigued by your take on it. You always manage to find the deeper things underneath.
I, too, have experienced the “optional downgrade” in my own life — convinced that a move from metro to rural would be a step down. As it turns out, I got the better deal.
Great post. It’s good to be “back” here. I’ve missed my favorite bloggers — of which you are one.
Lyla Lindquist // 2010/02/09 at 11:45 AM |
It is funny to me how we all see and read differently. I’m sitting here wondering, for you who are reading the book, how you could have missed that part that flashed as though in neon to me. And yet, looking back at the narrative, it’s pretty brief and kind of slips right by I suppose.
It’s all about reading in context. Mine is very different from the next person, whose is very different from the next.
We see what we see and hear what we hear through the filters of our own stories, I suppose, and given my current context, this hit me like a truck.
Dad, best line of the day: Even with X Ray eyes, Superman doesn’t see into the future. He just has a better view of the present. (And stay tuned, new post from my dad is on the schedule.)
Solveig, not presumptuous. Not at all. I see it as bold, yes. But bold like He tells us to be in our confidence in His Word. He said He would be with you. So to agree that He was? Makes sense to me.
Jennifer, so glad to see you back too.
nancy // 2010/02/10 at 8:12 PM |
i am not reading the book.
however i really enjoyed your post.
“i could hear the eyes roll…”
i loved that!
Lyla Lindquist // 2010/02/11 at 7:19 AM |
Nancy, my teenage sons have helped me to hone this ability to hear eyes rolling. They roll so often around here the sound is unmistakable. One need not see them anymore to know they have begun their orbit.
Monica Sharman // 2010/02/12 at 12:04 PM |
Yeah, he didn’t know that then. And I wonder what we don’t know now?
Lyla Lindquist // 2010/02/12 at 12:25 PM |
Would kinda make your head pop, wouldn’t it?