Unfiltered Story #394442
I was nonverbal until young adulthood. I have a poor background and wanted a job badly. So, I rode my bike all over town looking for any place that would hire me. There was a factory that made pallets that had a Christian fish symbol on its sign. I went in explaining that I was a Christian and looking for work. I also explained that I was a fast learner and a hard worker willing to learn anything. As I was speaking to the lady at the front desk, I heard a couple of men laughing in an office behind her. They were mocking the way that I spoke. It was hurtful and I held back tears and tried to continue to speak to the woman but was interrupted by one of the men saying, “Well duh, Charlie Brown!”. Then they erupted with laughter again. Even then I asked if I could take an application home, but the lady insisted that they were not hiring.
I rode my bike to an evening service at my church and thought about that sign the whole time. I almost did not go; one of the women who sang in the choir was a business owner. She had also turned me down for a job. I went anyway and when the service was over I slipped out trying to avoid talking to anyone. Some quickly came out behind me and called my name, “Josh, did I see you riding your bike around town?” I told them, “Yes sir” and he asked what I was doing. Someone else overheard me and said, “You rode your bike all over town and no one would hire you? That’s crazy, I would have hired anyone on the spot who was willing to do that. You come by my shop in the morning or anytime that you’re ready and I’ll employ you.” He was a retired sheriff that was now over city maintenance. That was my first real job. I mostly collected limbs and cut grass out in the summer heat and loved it. I was so proud. One day, at the shop, we came in to beat the heat. One of my coworkers looked over at me and said, “Man why are you smiling? We’re dying and you’re not even sweating!?”
A lot of good things happened for me after that. I went to college, got a degree, and worked in various fields. I knew I could do it if someone just gave me a chance.
