Life As an Afterschool Special

I took a job as a personal assistant to a Christian Counselor/Speaker and I have really liked it. When I took the job I told my new boss that I interviewed at a non profit and I really wanted to work with battered woman someday. A few days after I was hired I got an email from the non profit asking me to come back for a third interview. I talked to my new boss about it, and with her blessing I went to the interview.

I arrive at the interview and there are literally NINE people in the conference room to interview me.

I sit down and they start asking me questions about my experience. Most of my experience with working with battered woman (besides personal) is through Christian organizations. I worked with Lovelines Christian Counseling, and I lead a group with Celebrate Recovery.

They start asking me questions about my faith and the role it plays in my life.

One woman turns to me and says, “We strive to break misogynist views. Its part of our mission statement. These are views the church usually upholds. Doesn’t the church say woman need to be quiet and submit”?

And I am thinking are you KIDDING me?! This is an interview! But I answer.

”The church does believe that, but it also believes men should love their wives the way Christ loved the church, and He died for his love. So it isn’t about women being weak, but about both men and woman being strong enough to not be selfish”

We talked more about the church, and I think I offended them when I said I do think there were men roles and woman roles.

And then (this is a huge moment) they asked me if I could share my own experience without talking about faith.

I thought about it and answered no. I couldn’t. And I didn’t know how you could train someone to work with broken hurting battered woman and not talk about faith in something. If this life and all the pain were all there was what hope is there?

I am thinking “This is the worst interview EVER” and they all leave the room. They leave me there for almost 20 minutes and I am thinking “They hate me… I never should have worn a dress and heels”

After 20 minutes they come in and OFFER ME THE JOB.

No joke.

At 20.00 an hour.

But the lady said “I hope you are ok with not talking about your faith. I know you love your religion, but I hope you love helping woman more”

And I want to say yes. But I open my mouth and out comes “I am sorry, I can’t. I wish you the best of luck, but I am really not what you are looking for. This isn’t a good fit”

I wanted to cry.

But I realized in that moment that although my heart of hearts is to work with broken women; I can not and I will not do it with out God.