An Elevator Convo that Changed My Life
Sometimes a conversation changes your life. I had a conversation like that once. In an elevator.
I was in my 2nd year of being married. I had followed (read good Christian wife) my husband to NOVA for him to pursue seminary. Our lives were pretty uprooted and we were doing our best to settle in a new place with new people. We were both working full time jobs and working at the church part time. I took a job at an insurance collection company… they hired me to work for 3 people, the office manager, the IT guy, and the finance guy (I quickly learned that it is probably best to have only one boss at a time!) I did like the fact that what I was doing each day changed, but surprisingly I ended up bored a lot. Sometimes I covered the reception desk, stuffed envelops, the IT guy had me take meeting minutes and then asked me to organize his filing cabinet… military style? I did get to work on the budget for the whole company for a chunk of time and learned how amazing spreadsheets and crunching numbers can be! (I actually mean that!) But what one day I was headed up to the second or third floor and this spunky little lady hopped in the elevator with me. She had a short, blonde, sassy haircut, she was dressed to the nines, and she just had a really great countenance. She smiled, I introduced myself, she introduced herself as Vickie, and we chatted on our way up. I remember being so impressed. She was kind, friendly, well-spoken, and feminine.
A few days later, the office manager, who had hired me called me into her office to let me know that the people “upstairs” would like to offer me a job. Hmmmm… I had no idea what she was talking about. Then she mentioned Vickie Clark, the COO of the company, wanted to hire me as her executive assistant. Even though I really had no idea what a big deal that was at the time, I really liked Vickie from our interaction in the elevator and I thought it would be really great to work for her.
And it was…
Vickie Clark-Tubbs taught me so many things about life. She taught me so many things about being a powerful woman, a leading woman, a gracious and feminine woman. I watched her lead with her relational foot forward in her management style. I watched her recover falling moral and lead her team through precarious times. I watched her speak on her feet to interpersonal conflict and navigate politics in the office. She worked hard and came in early to get work done so that she could be available to her team.I watched her get married to this prince charming esq character who waltzed into her life, and care for her daughter who's husband was away at war. She walked and spoke with grace and confidence and knowledge all wrapped in one ball of passionate fury to succeed and to be a part of something great.
Vickie listened to my own personal stories and shared her past experiences as a pastor’s wife. She encouraged me always to love God and attend to my relationship with him, and also testified that the church hurts sometimes. I was really wrestling with the very strong view our church held on “biblical” manhood and womanhood and Vickie was always empowering me in my womanhood and as a daughter of God. Vickie spurred me on in my faith and gave me many conversations that I would look back to for hope.
Vickie gave me a lot of things. I’m not sure if she knew how valuable that time was to me and how good and outstanding of a woman she is. I think the most valuable thing Vickie gave me was a chance. She saw potential in me, she gave me an opportunity to grow into a new role, and she coached me through it until I came out on the other side with so much amazing experience and loving what I got to do every day! And now, I absolutely never want to settle for anything less than that.
On days when I feel unseen and feel tempted to sulk or surrender to a pity party, I think of Vickie. I see her sweet smile, her steady, shoulders-back confidence, her drive to make things happen, her blurting out some quite direct exhortation that you really needed to hear, and I remember that she saw me. I think of Vickie and all that I learned and experienced with her, and I am inspired to be myself and do what I know I am capable of whether another soul notices or not.
A person can change a person. A great experience, relationship, or mentor can help to anchor a person for life. Love you Vickie. Godspeed.
