When a door closes

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." ~Proverbs 16:9

On Aug. 13, 2012, I walked into the office of The Advocate-Messenger. I was in the process of finishing my master's degree and was starting my first "real" job as a professional journalist.

I was in awe my first day. That was a feeling that didn't go away quickly, either. There were legends in that office and I was getting to work alongside them.

I got to cover the vice presidential debate that year. I met then-Governor Steve Beshear multiple times in those first few months. I had the opportunity to shake the hands of journalists from around the world.

I've met people who have amazed and inspired me.

I've covered stories that have broken my heart.

I've gotten to meet various elected officials in Boyle and surrounding counties. I've gotten to know a variety of first responders.

I met my husband.

I've gotten to fulfill a dream of mine.

And, on June 22, 2018, I walked out of The Advocate-Messenger, no longer an employee. Due to a downsizing, my position was cut.

This is not a bashing of the newspaper. I'm not that person and I don't ever want to be that kind of person. It's simply, the same as all of my posts, part of my process. I'm a writer and I must write.

I'm grateful for the years I had at The Advocate-Messenger. I'm grateful that John Nelson and Vicki Stevens took a chance on me.

I'm grateful that Clay Jackson took time to introduce himself to me that first day. I remember it clearly -- I was in shock. I remember, as a teenager, seeing him covering my brother's and cousin's basketball games. But we became friends and I valued that.

I never thought about how important that was to me, until I spoke to our intern after my departure. She shared with me how she had been reading my work since her own high school days and how much I had impacted her. It reminded me of those legends I read and eventually got to work with.

I'm grateful for everyone that I had an opportunity to work alongside. I'd put them against some of the best in the business.

They are some of the best in the business.

Over the years I've been there, the faces have changed. People have come and gone, some by choice and some the way I did, a victim of the changing industry. But the mission of those working day and night to get the news out has not changed.

The goal always was and still remains to put out a quality paper. A paper the readers can turn to when they need the news they can trust. Even in my absence from the staff, I will continue to support The Advocate-Messenger.

The people working there deserve my continued support. And the community deserves a newspaper it can be proud of. That can only happen with community support.

So support your paper. Buy ads, buy subscriptions, do what you need to, but support your paper.

Those people in that office work hard each day to ensure it's worth supporting.

As for me? I don't know what's next. As I walked out of the office last Friday, I was scared, I admit. But the sun was shining, the birds were chirping and Good Lord reminded me of a verse he laid on my heart that morning during my devotional time.

"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." ~ Matthew 6:34

If you're not familiar with the passage, it speaks of how the birds of the sky and the lilies of the field are cared for without their own worries or efforts. It reads, "Are you not much more valuable than they?" in verse 26 and "If that is how God clothes grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more cloth you, O you of little faith? So do not worry ..." in verses 30 and 31.

And in the days following, the God has continued to show me those little reminders that He will provide.

So I'm not worried.

But I am looking, so if you know of anything for an unemployed print journalist with a master's degree in communications, hit me up! :)

And remember, God is the peace in whatever troubles you find. Look to Him.