I don’t think 1A should say NEVER.  Twice I’ve been in situations where I knew obedience required me to resign without any idea what was next (I’m older than most of you readers), once in a secular job and once in ministry.  There are times when there is something about which you have a moral or ethical dissonance.  In this case staying until you get your ducks in a row could make you complicit in the very thing you find unethical.  There are times there is a passion, mission or vision mismatch.  In this case, staying until you get your ducks in a row could be unhealthy for you, the organization or both.

Also, as a past HR director, a comment about job hunting.  While you cannot always let your current employer know you are looking, be sure you can hold your head high when you leave.  You may be very unhappy with your employer, feel they are unfair.  You may even think your work environment is hostile.  Nothing gives you permission to be dishonorable or shortchange your current employer.  You should only do tasks related to your job search (e-mails, web searching, phone calls) from work if absolutely necessary.  If at all possible, schedule interviews outside of your regular work hours.  If you are honest with your perspective employer that you are trying to be honorable to your current employer’s expectations, you will earn the respect of the prospect (believe me, I’ve been that over the years for hundreds of prospective employees.) The best thing you can do to retain a good reputation (and honor the Lord) is to finish a job well.

Hope you are all relaxed Todd.

Wendi

There are times to leave when you don’t have something lined up but God tells you it is time in every fiber of your being.  It is also true that one should never threaten anything...speak softly and walk firmly.  Too many politicians also suffer from the Farve syndrome, and when it is time to go, go gracefully, leave early, having people wish you could stay longer.  Isn’t that true in many cases?  In all other respects there is great wisdom in this article. 

Sometimes when your feeling important, sometimes when your ego’s in bloom, sometimes when you think that your presence, awes everyone else in the room, take a bucket and fill it with water, stick your hand in up to the wrist, pull your hand out and the hole that’s remaining, is a measure of how you’ll be missed… The Indispensable Man by Saxon White Kessinger

Let’s assume for a moment thet Brett retired of his own free will, which I’m not sure is a fact. But let’s say it is. He retired, he walked away and there were a few ways to handle it if he wanted to come back. I think had he just gone to practice the whole outcome would be different.

However, it’s never just a game or just an little job. What we all do does have serious and sometimes life changing results on others. Look at some things we know about Brett coming back. Right away his family moves to New York. The QB for the Jets is released, which will probably lead to another release in Miami and so on. These are just a few things that we see right now. This doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have come back just because others were effected by it.

When it comes to church and pastors when they resign or retire I have never seen the change their mind thing be a good thing. Something happens to those around them and they wonder when will they leave, I have pastor friends who have used the I’ll resign card to motive people around them. It always fails.

Brett’s case, I’m no matter the outcome of this season I’m sure the owners of the Jets are thrilled to be selling more seats for their new stadium.

Maybe this be a riminder to us all that the choices we make do have consequence for us and others.