Winds of Change

Reading Time: 3 minutes

By Michael Avery, featuring Dennis Ernst

from Seven Signs from the Universe, pp. 139-141, by Michael and Pichaya Avery

Dennis Ernst had been living in the little town of Ashland, Oregon, for eight years, but his dreams were showing him that a change was coming. Soon, he would be leaving the area. He enjoyed his work as an engineer in the small town amongst all the wonderful people who made up the artsy, tourist community. Dennis had learned that windows of opportunity are often brief, so he would need to pay attention if he was going to transition easily through this change.

His aging parents were requiring help, and his mother had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Dennis was the only one in the family who could assist them at this time. It had been years since he’d lived near his parents, and, as with many families, there were good reasons for the distance. He saw this change in his life as an opportunity to complete an old cycle and restore balance with his family.

The economy in Oregon was tight once again, with few jobs, little security, and lower wages. In his contemplations, Dennis asked for help in finding the right job situation and for confirmation about relocating close to his parents. He felt the reassuring presence of his Spiritual Teacher and knew all would be well, even with many unknowns.

He applied for several positions in his target area and began calling people he knew to ask for their assistance. One of the positions Dennis applied for was in a medium-sized city, but it was at a lower level than his current job. Dennis knew that a lot of people would be applying for it. Some would be locals who probably had friends already working there, but Dennis decided to throw his hat in the ring anyway. When he hadn’t heard from them well after the closing date, however, he crossed this potential employer off his list.

Over a month later, Dennis got a call at his office from the city with the job. Their first selection hadn’t worked out, and they were going back through the applications again. They asked Dennis to come in for an interview as soon as possible. He thanked them for calling but expressed some reluctance as he didn’t want to give notice at his current job only to become another unsuccessful candidate.

He also let them know that, if he was chosen, he would need to give his current employer ample time to find a replacement. Dennis had a very busy summer project schedule and knew there was no one qualified who could quickly jump in and pick up the load. But he did agree to come in for an interview the following week.

Well, that was interesting, Dennis thought, as he hung up the phone. Inwardly, he questioned his teacher, “Is this really the right job for me?” He needed a clear “Yes,” something he couldn’t miss. At that point, Dennis let the whole issue go and headed down the stairs from his second-floor office.

“It was a gusty spring day,” Dennis recalls. “I had just stepped down onto the sidewalk when a gust of wind sprang up. It caught a sheet of newspaper nearby and blew it my way. It sailed up in the air like a kite, then gently spiraled down and landed right at my feet. It was a full-page Nike advertisement with their slogan in huge, bold letters: Just Do It!”

Dennis caught his breath, then rubbed his eyes to make sure what he’d just witnessed was real. The confirmation about moving forward could not have been any clearer. Just Do It!

Dennis adds, “So often we get caught up in the drama of life, and we miss the messages. We forget to ask inwardly for help and often end up making poor choices. I did get the job, and it was the right one for me at the time. Life becomes so much richer and rewarding when we make the effort to flow with it.”