Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Oracle about Oracle!


A little more than a month back I quit my second job and joined my third organization – Oracle. I had shared with you earlier, how I landed my second job. Click here to read it. Well this time the experience of leaving the second job and joining the next was pretty similar, a little bit more direct though.

On my way to work, I always used to cross the Oracle office. I have been taking the same route for more than a year, and it was just another office building, but since the beginning of this year I started thinking about job opportunities there. God, who knows my heart’s desire, knew this desire as well. Within a few weeks time, one of my college friend who works with Oracle dropped a mail to all our batch mates about an opening there. The profile and the location of the job opening was exactly what I was looking for! However, I couldn’t respond to that mail promptly since I was away on a vacation and my resume wasn’t ready. I managed to send the resume in a few days time, but I guess it was late by then. I didn’t hear anything for a few days. I, then, left it to God’s providence. Why do I worry! If He has planned a job for me at Oracle, it would happen. If not, it won’t. As I would eventually come to know, God actually did.

A couple of months later, I got a call from a recruiter in Oracle regarding a similar job posting but in a different city. I proceeded with the rounds of interview and what followed next were days that I would never forget. I realized that God was more interested in my life and my career than I was. I realized how strongly and directly God would communicate to me regarding the plans He had for me. I realized once more that God is alive and active and working in my life.

I was going through multiple rounds of interviews. On one of those days, during my daily time with God, I came across a Bible passage in the book of Isaiah. I was going through it and when I came to the last verse, a surprise awaited me. The last verse had the word ‘oracle’ in it! That was the name of the organization I was being interviewed for! I took it as a sign from God. Little did I know that it was just the beginning of many days through which God would speak to me personally and precisely about my career.

26th April: I completed all the rounds of interviews and was waiting to hear from them. Even before my recruiter spoke, God did. Again during my personal prayer time I came across the verse 2 Samuel 16:23, this also had the word ‘Oracle’ in it.

28th April: I was rushing to work and just had a few minutes to watch TV as I gulped down my breakfast. I was browsing through the channels when I came across an image of a man holding a placard which had the word ‘Oracle’ written on it. I was on that channel for just a few minutes, but God used this opportunity to speak to me. That day evening, the recruiter called me to get some additional information regarding my salary.

2nd May: I was in my hometown. Again during my prayer time, God led me to a passage in the book of Proverbs. And you guessed it right; I came across another verse which had the word ‘Oracle’ in it!  Proverbs 16:10. That night I got a call from the recruiter who wanted to discuss the compensation package they were planning to offer me.

In all the years put together that I had read the Bible, I have never come across this particular word so many times; leave aside it happening within such a short span of time. Of all the scores of books, hundreds of pages, thousands of verses and millions of words in the Bible, God was guiding me towards these specific ones and speaking to me so directly! It was as if He was physically present right next to me and telling me where He was taking me.

9th May: I received the offer letter from Oracle and that too for the location I wanted! But I think that was the easy part when compared to what followed.

13th May: I was asked to join Oracle within two weeks. This was a very short time when compared to the two months’ notice period that I had to serve with my previous organization. I didn’t even want to demand this because I felt it was unfair on my part. I thought a lot and finally conveyed to the recruiter that if its two weeks, I won’t be able to accept the offer.

14th May: During the Holy Mass, I was inspired to ask God to make this offer happen. God, being a loving Father, has always encouraged me to ask from Him just like a child would his father. And so I did. And within minutes, I got a call from the recruiter saying they are trying to take an exception approval from the highest authority. I clearly remember him saying, that such requests usually do not get approved and if it does it would be a miracle. When I heard this, I smiled and said to myself, “He doesn’t know that my God works miracles day-in and day-out.” I was sure he would get his miracle.

15th May: He did get his miracle. In the evening, he called me and informed that the joining date has been extended by two more weeks, so I will be able to serve one month’s notice period. That seemed reasonable to me.

16th May: I spoke to my superior and resigned.

What followed next was a tug-of-war between my present and future employer regarding my relieving date: one wanted me to be relieved as late as possible and the other wanted me to join as early as possible. I would have easily got tensed and worried about the situation, but then again God spoke to me saying, He is in control and that I don’t have to do anything. I just have to leave it to Him and trust Him, which I did. And boy was it difficult.

20th June: More than a month after my resignation, I still hadn’t got a confirmation about my date of relieving, though my superiors were working hard towards that. Once again God let me know that he was in charge. He spoke to me through a Bible passage once more which had the word Oracle in it. Nahum1:1. This was another confirmation of His plans for me.

21st June: Early in the morning, as I entered a retreat center to spend some time in prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, I noticed a banner which read: “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.” (Exodus 14:14). I have crossed that place a few times before, but never noticed this banner. That day God drew my attention towards it and assured me once again that He is in control, I just had to relax. And that’s what I tried doing. But let me tell you it was so difficult. So many times during the day I would feel like checking with my boss about my relieving date, but then this verse would come into my mind and then I would resist the urge of pinging her or calling.

Within a few days the person who would take over the responsibilities from me was identified and the knowledge transfer began.

4th July: I was relieved from my previous employer.

7th July: I joined Oracle. It’s been a little over a month now here and things are going on well. I do not know what future holds for me here, but I’m sure whatever it is, it is as per God’s plan for me.

I’m sharing this experience of mine with you, not to show-off or boast, but to convey one simple thing. “You cannot imagine at all how much you interest God; He is interested in you as if there were no one else on earth.” (Julien Green, French writer).



If you have any issues with your laptop, TV, smart phone, bike, microwave etc. etc., you might approach any of the dubious mechanics, but you know that the most reliable solution is from the manufacturer’s service center.  The one who created the product knows it inside out and is the best one to tell you how to use it; and when it doesn’t function well, how to repair it. Each of us is created by God in love. In the words of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, “We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary.”  And the One who created us, knows us best. Our lives would be so much more meaningful, if only we approach Him, trust Him, love Him, speak to Him, listen to what He says, obey Him and let Him direct our paths.


How long do we run around like headless chicken? How long do we act as if we decide our lives knowing very well that what happens the very next second is not in our hands? How long do grope around and falter in the dark when all that we need to do is switch on the light?

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” – St Augustine of Hippo.

God Bless!


11 comments:

  1. You boast in the Lord as you rightly should! Thanks for such a candid testimony.. Hallelujah Amen

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  2. That was very encouraging Thejas. Thanks for sharing!. Praise to our faithful God!

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  3. Great sharing Thejas! I relived my own experience while reading yours in joining Bosch recently when me too had almost the same experience where I felt that God was leading me much more certainly that I could have ever done by myself. Praise God who does wonders in our lives!

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  4. Hey Thejas..I too hav been amazed by the diff ways in which God talks to us...sometimes v brush it off as coincidences but it's d grace of God dt helps us see it for wat it is...praise God n keep,writing!

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  5. More proof that God has plans for each one of us.

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  6. Really inspiring event Thejas!!! It is such a magical feeling when God speaks so directly to each of us... All the best in your new role

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  7. Its really wonderful to see the ways in which God works..
    Sometimes its very difficult to be still or let go and just trust in Him..
    But when we do that, it all seems to fall in place correctly!
    Jeremiah 29:11
    For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

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  8. Praise be to God, The Almighty!!!
    Awesome sharing !!!
    It inspired me a lot and has made my faith in GOD more stronger :)

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