I was very heartened as I read the practical suggestions given by Sis. Gerzel Gordon on the subject of surviving a job loss (2/01, p.69). This shows not only an awareness on her part of the problems facing our brothers and sisters, but concern and interest. Her suggestions stimulated some thoughts which I would like to share hopefully to encourage and help those suffering a loss of their job.
A family experience
It seems that these days lay-off is the norm, and this cannot be easy for those affected. Hence one has to prepare other job skills, as possible backup.
As Sis. Gerzel suggested, this calls for creativity. Look around to see what is needed as the world changes. To give one example of this alertness, before we were born, my father, who was a music teacher, realized that the income from this was not adequate to keep his growing family. He had to change his occupation. In those days people cooked on wood-burning stoves and coal pots, using mainly wood, and he quickly saw that supplying wood to their homes would be a desired convenience. He started this business on a small scale by using a box cart which he pushed. Then he moved on to a cart drawn by a donkey. In the then British Guiana, with its brand of colonial culture, this was a social no no. Both he and my mother were criticized and ostracized, but thankfully were wise enough to put their priorities above the foolish pride of those who could offer them no alternatives. With this despised occupation, they were able to adequately and independently feed, clothe and educate us all. It was in this very business that my father met the brother who introduced the Truth to him. Yes, sometimes God provides us opportunities and shows us the way. We must be perceptive and not let pride get into the way.
Joseph an excellent example
Much can be learnt from young Joseph, Jacob’s son, who not only lost his job, but was catapulted therefrom into the dungeons in disgrace, by the false accusation of a fickle woman. Before this, Joseph, who arrived in Egypt as a young slave, was soon entrusted the responsibilities of managing the household of Potiphar, captain of the guard. How did he acquire such a responsible position? We’ve only to use our imagination. He obviously was not a lazy lad at home, and so with a good background, and an alert and inquiring mind he soon observed his surroundings, saw what was needed to be done, assumed responsibilities, got organized and with God’s help, did the job. God was with him because he had faith in God. God caused all that he did to prosper because he diligently applied himself to his work. He never let the hardship and apparent hopelessness of his situation get the better of him because he believed that God could overcome any obstacle, and in this confidence and perseverance he looked carefully for God’s direction toward overcoming and moving past those obstacles.
Taking advantage of prison
As we follow him in his trials, we can clearly see that God was preparing him for the important role he was later to assume. It was this same attitude that helped him in his greater trial in the prison. Remember at this time, he was on his own — no close relatives, no family to support him. He was at one time even held in chains. Many of us would have given up in despair and bitterness. What possible chance was there in this dungeon to find another job? Instead, Joseph got up, dusted himself off and began looking around for available opportunities. The superintendent, onserving his industry, commit-
ted to him the charge of the prison. Along with his diligent work performance, we note his interest in the prisoners themselves, as he not only observed their moods, but made an effort to assist. He had that personal touch. What a spirit! This is being positive. These qualities — the basis of success — will propel us into any avenue.
Sis. Gerzel urged enhancement of qualifications. Joseph’s fellow prisoners were the king’s prisoners. With his alert and inquiring mind, Joseph would have learned a lot in talking with them and listening as they spoke with each other about the policies and rules and business of the royal household. With this attitude, his experience in the jail, instead of being a negative one, could have proven to be almost exciting with the knowledge he was daily acquiring. It was this disposition and the interest he had in other people which God worked with to give him the new job. Joseph had prepared himself and when the opportunity came he was ready and was highly successful as governor of Egypt.
Qualities to emulate and reject
We could now pause and consider the qualities Joseph displayed in becoming successful. I would suggest alertness, planning and organizing, commitment to God and then confidently putting his plans into action, remembering to be continuously thankful to God for His help. We could briefly compare the work attitude of the butler and baker as revealed in their dreams. The butler took advantage of every opportunity to conscientiously and diligently serve the king whereas the baker, carelessly and indifferently performed his duties conveying Pharaoh’s bakemeats in an open basket on his head exposed to the birds. He could not be bothered to cover the basket. The butler was restored to his position and the baker was executed. This teaches that attitudes go a long way in making us either a success or a failure.
Overcoming despair
We cannot underestimate the feelings of hopelessness and devastation that are involved in a lay-off. But as Sis. Gerzel pointed out, there is prayer and this must not be underrated. It is in this that Joseph found relief and encouragement during the dark days he experienced. Yet from this hopeless situation (any one laid-off, could not be in a worse position) Joseph was able to climb out and become, not just the house manager of one of Pharaoh’s officials, but governor of Egypt, second in command to the King. Joseph was perceptive of God’s help in all his afflictions. We, too, must keep our eyes open and our ears attuned to God’s help. Jesus told us that God knows what things we have need of. He knows our individual circumstances and our predicament. As a loving and caring Father, He will not turn His back on us. Let us look to Him, to lean on Him, asking Him to point the way of relief and most importantly, making all efforts to follow His direction.
Another positive way of relief in this situation is to take time to work in God’s service.
A personal example
We must try to use the same alertness of a Joseph-like attitude in the Truth. I recall once I was in a desperate situation and could see no way out. All my efforts at resolving my problem proved unsuccessful and I was deeply frustrated. At that time, the meeting I attended was preparing to host a Bible School and I was required to assist. I could not handle both activities at the same time, so I made a deliberate decision to put all my efforts in the preparation of the Bible School and push the problem aside asking God to take it over. I soon became so involved that the burden of the problem receded into the background. Remarkably, it was while concentrating on this very activity that my problem was solved most unexpectedly and most successfully by the intervention of one of the sisters on the planning committee.
I learned here that when we give full service to God, He takes care of our needs.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One