Glory to God for all things

A telephone call today, while I was out for a walk. Our son Christopher left a message: He's got a new job.

:D

This particular job is in White River Junction, Vermont, which is about two hours northwest of where we live. It's the Real Deal -- not a tiny little short-line railroad, but a large corporation, RailAmerica, which owns and operates New England Central, a line that runs from the Canadian border to New London, CT. It's also one step up from his current place of employment: top speed on New Hope and Ivyland's track is 15 mph, and on the New England Central, it's 40 mph. So Chris will have good opportunity to learn and grow on this job.

I hasten to add that he did enjoy his job at New Hope very much, except for one thing: It's There, and all his friends and family are Here. When he was home for Thanksgiving, he was so bitterly homesick that it broke my heart to listen to him; but that was the visit that decided him to look for work closer to home. When he came home for Christmas, he had a job interview with New England Central on December 21. He's been on pins and needles ever since, though he said that he wouldn't have been especially sorry if the job hadn't come through; he was leaving this in the hands of the Almighty, and so have I been, asking Him to grant Chris a job "closer to Home, as Thou definest Home." (Well, on this earth, anyway -- I'm not quite ready to see my only son go HOME home.)

Yes, I'm happy about it. Not only should we be able to see him at least a little more frequently (depending on his job schedule), but also, this puts the final chapter on the Ruth Catastrophe. He can put that behind him once and for all, and move on. He still says he's not up for any more romance (and after his last experience, I can hardly blame him), but I am of the firm conviction that God created a woman for every man, and a man for every woman, so she's out there somewhere. (Monastics aren't really an exception, except that the men and women created for each other have chosen to give their lives completely to God.) The other half of my prayer is that God will bring them together, and that they will have the sense to realize it and do something about it.

I'm sure I'm not making too much sense. I'm too happy to make sense at all. CHRIS IS COMING HOME!!!!