Thursday, October 29, 2009

Surviving Rejection

I knew the streak would have to end sooner or later (I was hoping for later). I had hoped it would not end yesterday, but it did.

I received my first rejection letter for a job I interviewed for. Not that I've interviewed for lots of high-end jobs, but I was somewhat proud of the fact that I'd never been turned down for a job where I interviewed.

At first I was indignant, who wouldn't want me? But the longer I looked at the form letter that conveniently mail-merged my name in I had a new thought. Just the other day I visited with a former professor, and we discussed things not working out. His only response was, "Good." He expressed that when things don't work out it's because it was headed for some kind of disaster in the future, so be grateful it just didn't work out in the beginning.

It reminded me of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's talk and saying, "Come what may, and love it."

So instead of incinerating the letter, I think I might frame it as a mark of a turning point I could not have predicted that will put me on a path to a future that is yet unknown.

Good. Come what may, and love it.