Physical Anthropology & Unemployment

I need one more social science class so I registered for Physical Anthropology. I am taking this class for two reasons:
1) It begins at 8am. I thought I'd work on my self-discipline by having a reason to set the alarm, get up and start my day early. Having a morning class seemed like a good way to do this.
2) My oldest friend ever (in fact, I always say we've known each other since before we were born because our parents were friends when they were young marrieds/new parents) had to take Phys Anthro and complained about studying animals and having to waste time at the zoo, watching monkeys for an hour, and writing a paper on it. I still don't know why she didn't like the class-that sounds like fun to me! This was a class I definitely had to take! She wanted me to finish her class for her. She lives in another state.

My Phys Anthro adventure began this morning. Right in the middle of the syllabus is the exciting "outside assignment". I get to go to the zoo and look at monkeys for an hour and write a 4 page paper! (Hello! English major! Piece of cake!) I can't wait!

The Professor takes the last half of the class to allow the students to introduce themselves (ok, am I just really that old, or do all college classes do this now?) and I notice a trend in the students. At least every other student, if not more, is unemployed. When it's my turn to introduce myself it hits me. I've been unemployed for exactly 1 year and 2 days. This really wasn't part of my plan at all-to be unemployed this long. It was quite a disheartening moment. The last time I was unemployed was over 9 years ago when my boys and I moved back home-and it only took me 3 months to get a job.

I definitely don't want to be out of work for another year, and need to consider my options for employment-now, but when these disheartening moments occur I look back at a bible verse and note I posted on my facebook last summer. Here's an excerpt of the note:

" John 14:22-'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.' Whoa! He gives me peace! God wants to give me peace so my troubled heart is calmed and my fear subsides! Years ago I learned that some things (like the action of forgiveness) I have to remind myself to do, or think, sometimes every second of the day before it sinks in. This is today's "thing". This will be the "thing" for a long time. Keeping God's peace in my troubled, fearful heart while I'm on my first mission trip (in almost 30 years), while I begin college in a few weeks, while I look for a job, while I parent my almost 18 year old son, and while I strive to be the leader/ friend/ sister/auntie/daughter/ granddaughter and whatever else that God wants me to be, and to keep doing the things that God wants me to do."

The hard part is waiting for God's timing in where He wants me. Right now it's at the zoo studying monkeys.