rif, does it really mean rip?

we had another reduction in force this week at work. what this means to me is really rest in peace. i will never see these people again. they were let go, escorted out, never to be heard from again. i spent most of my hours awake with these people. they were a part of my everyday life. now they are gone. what i realized is that the few friends i have at work are all the friends i have outside of my old church friends, and most of them have moved on. mark herron, one of my special friends at work, was an incredible person. he was real, not afraid of who he was, and i really love him for that. david reid would ask me all the time "how is it looking?" referring to the workload, terry maxwell would give me an ear to ear smile and ask how i was doing, joe g was an angry man that i grew to love. richard wiley was deaf, but he didn't let that hinder him, i learned so much from him. now they are gone. we have no assurance in life, and the only the assurance i have is that i am loved, and that someday i will be with my soul mate, my savior, my king. the giver of grace and mercy that no one else can give to me. i hope that someday, we will all meet again, in that sweet, sweet place. i did my best to show jesus to them. but did i really tell them? i hope so.  i also realize that i need to find some new friends outside of work, outside of my old church. people that will share the next season of my life. i think so. so, here's to you ex-co-workers! may we meet again on that glorious day. in the mean time, i am going to  find new friends outside of work and my old church to take the adventure that will be this next season of my life.