My eye surgery will be at 8 on Thursday (Central time). This evening we were going out to meet our godkids for dinner and my husband tried to make a left turn onto a major street at sunset with the glare all around--he totaled the car (which was my son's) and has probably messed up our insurance coverage going forward. The silver lining is that nobody seems to have anything more than bruises... but I'd be grateful if you'd pray, as this is likely to be a financial burden, and possibly to raise questions about whether he ought to drive at all anymore.
Hi everyone, I will catch up with all your prayers soon, but right now I'm feeling so unsettled that I don't really know what to do next. I'm even having trouble composing this post. I'm just going to have to blurt.
In a nutshell, I had a slew of rejections today, which I guess is normal, but it was in a combination that made me question whether I'm employable at all by anyone.
I had an interview for a zero-hours cleaning job today, but it's competitive. I won't hear until the end of next week.
Even if I got full-time hours (I wouldn't), it still might not pay enough to cover expenses.
It is the only one of 24 similar jobs that I've heard back from.
----
The job that was keeping me waiting for a 5th interview, is still keeping me waiting.
I have not heard from them since my last post.
----
I do have one hopeful line of inquiry.
I applied for an entry-level job with a small business, and instead of rejecting me they are extremely keen to meet in person ASAP.
From our conversation, it is clear they know I am not an entry-level applicant and we would be a great match.
However, the attraction may be that they think I will accept entry-level pay.
I pray this job is as good as it looks, and that they hire me as fast as they appear to want to, and that it would pay as much as I need *and want* without my having to haggle.
However, I've had my hopes up so long and for so many times that my expectations are low.
=====
And now I can't really work out what to do with my time. But I need to spend it wisely.
Prayers for @Lamb Chopped tomorrow. @Telepath, you have been an absolute rock for everyone on the Ship with your prayer ministry, I hope we can be the same for you.
This is the Global Week of Prayer and we have a space in the colonnades of our Town Hall in what used to be the jail cells for prayer ministry this week and some things happening in the parish church. I'm doing a stint in the parish church on Friday and it was suggested I go along to the cells to see what resources there were etc. They had a lot of post it notes on which people had posted prayers and someone had posted a prayer for me and our Town Council. I was surprised at how much it meant to me.
Prayers for @Lamb Chopped tomorrow. @Telepath, you have been an absolute rock for everyone on the Ship with your prayer ministry, I hope we can be the same for you.
Thank you, folks. What a gift you are to me. I'm mostly sleeping today, but I'll let you know how tomorrow's post op appointment goes. So far, so good.
Finally a bit of goodish news about C who had a stroke a few weeks ago. After being in hospital since then he's just been moved to a newly opened state of the art rehabilitation centre and it sounds like they will be working hard to try to improve things for him. Obviously still a long way to go, but the first bit of positive news we've heard.
Really glad to read the news of C @Sarasa. They are certainly in the best place for getting the attention they need.
Also praying for G with the passing of her husband J, a loved father and faithful member of our local congregation. I will always remember him for his wonderful ministry of washing up and a chat after the Sunday service.
For @RockyRoger, for energy to do what must be done, and to bloom where he and Mrs RRare transplanted. For healing for the baby known to @RockyRoger, and for the extended family. For M, for G and for H. For Al and As and all in the Roger family affected by depression, for non-judgmental clinical intervention for A, and for grace and wisdom for Rocky and Mrs RR. For healing for D. For Miss RR, recovering from divorce; and for healing. For @RockyRoger's editor. For freedom from cancer and freedom from fear. For M in her job search. For all who have been and will be affected by the extreme heat. For discernment and guidance in organizing temporary and permanent locations to be in, plus affordable travel insurance. For MM, for healing. For the family whose father recently drowned in Bali. For Fr. L.
Echoing @Jabberwocky, for rest and peace and comfort to all who need it; for the USA and for all those fighting for what is right, and all who live in fear.
For @ChastMastr's Diana and those who miss her. For @ChastMastr to reboot and re-embody Daddy Vern's principles for living. For everyone affected by the fires in Puerto Vallarta. For the mother of Doug W, and for Doug W's private intention. For Scott in the loss of his partner Craig. For G dealing with divorce. For all affected by the storms in Hawaii, including Doug W and family and friends. For Renee and her granddaughter Azra. For the friend released from jail and his partner. For the soul of James N and for all who grieve for him, especially Lexx. For David and his partner Bob. For healing and comfort for Chaz. For healing and productivity for @ChastMastr, and enough classes to survive. For relief of academic, financial and physical stress; and for healthy living, and to never have to pull a grading all-nighter ever again. For David G and his sister(s). For Oliver Tree and all who loved him. For the repose of the soul of Daveigh Chase. For all sick and deceased pets, and those who are worried about or grieving for them; including Nichole's Potter, and Ryan's sick and elderly cat, and Ash. For Tim H. For the USA to recover. For Sonny in the loss of Sam. For John. For Therese, for healing. For David PL and his partner Bob. For jobs for Kevin and Watts. For Neil in the loss of Joanne. For Alexandria's mother.
For @Huia's in the loss of Glenn, her younger brothers, and all the family, and for Aroha. For P and his parents D and W. For @Huia to be comforted and healed.
For @Merry Vole and Mother Vole, and Sister Vole. For T and all who mourn him. For T's job to be easier.
For @Firenze, Mr. Firenze, SIL Firenze, and @Firenze herself, for timely and successful medical intervention, all necessary care and support, and swift healing with freedom from stress.
For @Lamb Chopped, and those saying things about the Chopped family. For the friend having surgery. For the friend whose mother is in memory care. For sleep and waking at the appropriate times. For H and his family, and for an end to such so-called deportations and for the abolition of ICE. For conflict resolution with the friend. For relief of pain, and for preservation of all vision. For K. For wisdom about Mr. Chopped's ability to drive, for replacement of Son Chopped's car, and for future insurance.
For travelling mercies for all affected by global instability, including @Doublethink's A and his family. For the Middle East, and for resolution of the war in Iran and elsewhere. For @Doublethink, his mother, and his father.
For @Sarasa's P in the loss of R her husband. For S to get the help she needs. For the repose of the soul of the person hit by the train. For healing for @Sarasa's ankle. For @Sarasa's town and its twin. For wisdom in helping others. For the best outcome at the inquest into @Sarasa's niece, and for Mr. Sarasa, his sister and family. For C, for healing; and for his wife C. For L, M and A in the loss of E. For D. For @Sarasa and the Town Council.
For @MrsBeaky and Tiny Beaky and Little Beaky, for healing.
For @Piglet's R in the loss of her mother R. For the repose of the soul of P, and for her daughter C. For healing for V. For the soul of L and her family.
For @NicoleMR's R in the loss of his father D. For cousin J, for healing. For J, and for all who cared for him.
For @Cheery Gardener's J in the loss of M. For G in the loss of her husband J.
For @Jengie Jon's friend T's nieces and their father, for resolution of ongoing crises and time for T to take care of herself. For discernment for @Jengie Jon.
For @MaryLouise and all affected by the flooding in the Western Cape and Overberg. For all, especially the undocumented farm workers, affected by xenophobia and for freedom from such spirits of hatred for us all. For @MaryLouise's friend, for healing. For all affected by the mudslide in Nepal.
For @mark_in_manchester's friend T, for healing, and for discernment for @mark_in_manchester regarding T's pastoral care. For conflict resolution with the horse-flogging friend.
For @sionisais' friend, his wife, and his family; for healing and upholding. For healing for Mrs. Sioni's pains. For all involved in the collision in Middlesbrough and the one in Ireland.
So anyway, I didn't get the cleaning job. I followed up on 14 of the other care home jobs I applied for; no response.
I still have not heard about that 5th interview.
This basically leaves the job I'm interviewing for tomorrow. I have every reason to be hopeful. I know there are various attitudes I should take, from various angles; but in reality I feel desperate.
There is a temp job for an IoT architect, paid hourly, variable hours, on-site about 2 hours away, for 7 weeks. I will have to spend all day Wednesday preparing for the interview which is on Thursday.
Also on Thursday, the call comes out for a professorship which I guess would solve some of my problems, while producing some new ones. The application package is enormous, and I should already have prepared it.
My weekend is taken up with friends who are very excited to see me, which is awesome - I haven't been able to afford to go anywhere further than walking distance all year, but in this case I have a training course, so I'm allowed to drive over there. It does, however, mean I won't have time to work on the application package until next week.
This is all so much work. I've been searching since May 2025.
What *could* happen is that I go to the interview tomorrow, it's as good as it looks, they make me an offer for loads of money on the spot (they're small enough to be able to do that). It would be a dream come true. I could drive home happy, and buy the good kind of cat food at Aldi.
Maybe they can only offer less money... maybe. I would be able to live on less than I used to earn, if I had to. I'd rather end up with a match for my previous full-time take-home pay, especially if I didn't have to haggle for it. But getting the offer at all would be an improvement on my current situation.
Please also pray for B. and her husband A., looking for work as a buyer in retail. And for C., my old office mate, who has been looking for work for well over a year now. And for T., looking to change jobs.
Praying for you @Telepath and thank you for your prayers for all of us. I so hope you find some work and that the professorship comes through.
Asking for prayers again for us here in South Africa. The bodies of eight women have been recovered in Kempton Park in Gauteng, all murdered in recent weeks or months and several sexually assaulted as well. We desperately need better policing and for widespread Gender-Based Violence to be made a national priority so that women can feel safe on the streets and in their homes.
<votive> for Lamb Chopped and family
<votive> for Telepath and thanksgiving for Telepath-the-Faithful's prayer list, and all on the list
<votive> for South Africa
<votive> for all, prayers said and unsaid, and not even dared.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Comments
PRAYING!!
Prayers from here too
In a nutshell, I had a slew of rejections today, which I guess is normal, but it was in a combination that made me question whether I'm employable at all by anyone.
I had an interview for a zero-hours cleaning job today, but it's competitive. I won't hear until the end of next week.
Even if I got full-time hours (I wouldn't), it still might not pay enough to cover expenses.
It is the only one of 24 similar jobs that I've heard back from.
----
The job that was keeping me waiting for a 5th interview, is still keeping me waiting.
I have not heard from them since my last post.
----
I do have one hopeful line of inquiry.
I applied for an entry-level job with a small business, and instead of rejecting me they are extremely keen to meet in person ASAP.
From our conversation, it is clear they know I am not an entry-level applicant and we would be a great match.
However, the attraction may be that they think I will accept entry-level pay.
I pray this job is as good as it looks, and that they hire me as fast as they appear to want to, and that it would pay as much as I need *and want* without my having to haggle.
However, I've had my hopes up so long and for so many times that my expectations are low.
=====
And now I can't really work out what to do with my time. But I need to spend it wisely.
This is very scary for me.
Also for @Lamb Chopped 's surgery tomorrow :votive:
Please lift up a friend, Renee G., having her own surgery tomorrow.
@Telepath, you have been an absolute rock for everyone on the Ship with your prayer ministry, I hope we can be the same for you.
This is the Global Week of Prayer and we have a space in the colonnades of our Town Hall in what used to be the jail cells for prayer ministry this week and some things happening in the parish church. I'm doing a stint in the parish church on Friday and it was suggested I go along to the cells to see what resources there were etc. They had a lot of post it notes on which people had posted prayers and someone had posted a prayer for me and our Town Council. I was surprised at how much it meant to me.
Echoed 🙏🙏
Praying for Telepath to have an excellent job opportunity.
Really glad to read the news of C @Sarasa. They are certainly in the best place for getting the attention they need.
Also praying for G with the passing of her husband J, a loved father and faithful member of our local congregation. I will always remember him for his wonderful ministry of washing up and a chat after the Sunday service.
For @RockyRoger, for energy to do what must be done, and to bloom where he and Mrs RRare transplanted. For healing for the baby known to @RockyRoger, and for the extended family. For M, for G and for H. For Al and As and all in the Roger family affected by depression, for non-judgmental clinical intervention for A, and for grace and wisdom for Rocky and Mrs RR. For healing for D. For Miss RR, recovering from divorce; and for healing. For @RockyRoger's editor. For freedom from cancer and freedom from fear. For M in her job search. For all who have been and will be affected by the extreme heat. For discernment and guidance in organizing temporary and permanent locations to be in, plus affordable travel insurance. For MM, for healing. For the family whose father recently drowned in Bali. For Fr. L.
Echoing @Jabberwocky, for rest and peace and comfort to all who need it; for the USA and for all those fighting for what is right, and all who live in fear.
For @ChastMastr's Diana and those who miss her. For @ChastMastr to reboot and re-embody Daddy Vern's principles for living. For everyone affected by the fires in Puerto Vallarta. For the mother of Doug W, and for Doug W's private intention. For Scott in the loss of his partner Craig. For G dealing with divorce. For all affected by the storms in Hawaii, including Doug W and family and friends. For Renee and her granddaughter Azra. For the friend released from jail and his partner. For the soul of James N and for all who grieve for him, especially Lexx. For David and his partner Bob. For healing and comfort for Chaz. For healing and productivity for @ChastMastr, and enough classes to survive. For relief of academic, financial and physical stress; and for healthy living, and to never have to pull a grading all-nighter ever again. For David G and his sister(s). For Oliver Tree and all who loved him. For the repose of the soul of Daveigh Chase. For all sick and deceased pets, and those who are worried about or grieving for them; including Nichole's Potter, and Ryan's sick and elderly cat, and Ash. For Tim H. For the USA to recover. For Sonny in the loss of Sam. For John. For Therese, for healing. For David PL and his partner Bob. For jobs for Kevin and Watts. For Neil in the loss of Joanne. For Alexandria's mother.
For @ThunderBunk's K and F.
For @Scots Lass and Scots Mum.
For @Huia's in the loss of Glenn, her younger brothers, and all the family, and for Aroha. For P and his parents D and W. For @Huia to be comforted and healed.
For @Merry Vole and Mother Vole, and Sister Vole. For T and all who mourn him. For T's job to be easier.
For @Firenze, Mr. Firenze, SIL Firenze, and @Firenze herself, for timely and successful medical intervention, all necessary care and support, and swift healing with freedom from stress.
For @Lamb Chopped, and those saying things about the Chopped family. For the friend having surgery. For the friend whose mother is in memory care. For sleep and waking at the appropriate times. For H and his family, and for an end to such so-called deportations and for the abolition of ICE. For conflict resolution with the friend. For relief of pain, and for preservation of all vision. For K. For wisdom about Mr. Chopped's ability to drive, for replacement of Son Chopped's car, and for future insurance.
For travelling mercies for all affected by global instability, including @Doublethink's A and his family. For the Middle East, and for resolution of the war in Iran and elsewhere. For @Doublethink, his mother, and his father.
For @Sarasa's P in the loss of R her husband. For S to get the help she needs. For the repose of the soul of the person hit by the train. For healing for @Sarasa's ankle. For @Sarasa's town and its twin. For wisdom in helping others. For the best outcome at the inquest into @Sarasa's niece, and for Mr. Sarasa, his sister and family. For C, for healing; and for his wife C. For L, M and A in the loss of E. For D. For @Sarasa and the Town Council.
For @MrsBeaky and Tiny Beaky and Little Beaky, for healing.
For @Doublethink's T and her father Eugene.
For discernment for @ThunderBunk.
For @Priscilla's Lord and Lady P and Levi.
For @Piglet's R in the loss of her mother R. For the repose of the soul of P, and for her daughter C. For healing for V. For the soul of L and her family.
For @Ex_Organist, for healing.
For @Cathscats, for healing.
For @NicoleMR's R in the loss of his father D. For cousin J, for healing. For J, and for all who cared for him.
For @Cheery Gardener's J in the loss of M. For G in the loss of her husband J.
For @Jengie Jon's friend T's nieces and their father, for resolution of ongoing crises and time for T to take care of herself. For discernment for @Jengie Jon.
For marking mercies for @Heavenlyannie.
For the soul of @Motherboard. For @JCP.
For @MaryLouise and all affected by the flooding in the Western Cape and Overberg. For all, especially the undocumented farm workers, affected by xenophobia and for freedom from such spirits of hatred for us all. For @MaryLouise's friend, for healing. For all affected by the mudslide in Nepal.
For @Puzzler's Stephen, for healing.
For @Darllenwr, for healing.
For @mark_in_manchester's friend T, for healing, and for discernment for @mark_in_manchester regarding T's pastoral care. For conflict resolution with the horse-flogging friend.
For @sionisais' friend, his wife, and his family; for healing and upholding. For healing for Mrs. Sioni's pains. For all involved in the collision in Middlesbrough and the one in Ireland.
For @Gramps49's Sammy, for healing.
For @Nick Kamen to rise to the new responsibilities.
For the return of @WormInTheGrass' friend's purse.
For @Sipech's sister and her ex-husband. For all affected by the Lewes train derailment. For the victims of the Pakistan hospital fire.
For all affected by the wildfire in the Cairngorms.
For @Stercus Tauri's great-nephew, for healing.
For the repose of the soul of Jason Arday, and comfort for his family and friends.
For @Caissa's sister and family; and for her brother in law.
For @Sicut Cervus' G, for healing, and upholding for G's family.
I still have not heard about that 5th interview.
This basically leaves the job I'm interviewing for tomorrow. I have every reason to be hopeful. I know there are various attitudes I should take, from various angles; but in reality I feel desperate.
There is a temp job for an IoT architect, paid hourly, variable hours, on-site about 2 hours away, for 7 weeks. I will have to spend all day Wednesday preparing for the interview which is on Thursday.
Also on Thursday, the call comes out for a professorship which I guess would solve some of my problems, while producing some new ones. The application package is enormous, and I should already have prepared it.
My weekend is taken up with friends who are very excited to see me, which is awesome - I haven't been able to afford to go anywhere further than walking distance all year, but in this case I have a training course, so I'm allowed to drive over there. It does, however, mean I won't have time to work on the application package until next week.
This is all so much work. I've been searching since May 2025.
What *could* happen is that I go to the interview tomorrow, it's as good as it looks, they make me an offer for loads of money on the spot (they're small enough to be able to do that). It would be a dream come true. I could drive home happy, and buy the good kind of cat food at Aldi.
Maybe they can only offer less money... maybe. I would be able to live on less than I used to earn, if I had to. I'd rather end up with a match for my previous full-time take-home pay, especially if I didn't have to haggle for it. But getting the offer at all would be an improvement on my current situation.
Please also pray for B. and her husband A., looking for work as a buyer in retail. And for C., my old office mate, who has been looking for work for well over a year now. And for T., looking to change jobs.
Prayers ascending from here that the Dream Job happens for you!
Absolutely!
Asking for prayers again for us here in South Africa. The bodies of eight women have been recovered in Kempton Park in Gauteng, all murdered in recent weeks or months and several sexually assaulted as well. We desperately need better policing and for widespread Gender-Based Violence to be made a national priority so that women can feel safe on the streets and in their homes.
For all in need of prayer.
<votive> for Telepath and thanksgiving for Telepath-the-Faithful's prayer list, and all on the list
<votive> for South Africa
<votive> for all, prayers said and unsaid, and not even dared.
Romans 8:21, KJ21
Lord, in your Mercy, hear our prayer. - Amen.