An apology to Benha on his post and other readers

[Doc Nock]

Recently, George aka Benha posted about losing another job and then, getting an offer.

Amidst my joy for him, I erred and allowed something heavy on my heart to pour forth.

I read later another poster read my words and was crestfallen by the tennor of my words.

For those who might have read that post, I offer my apology here as also posted on George (Benhas) post:

I owe you both and other gentle readers an apology for what came across as a "downer." That was not my intent. Thanks, Brian, for the mirror held up as to how my words came across. I know what was in my heart, but I realize it didn't come across well...

My intention was to praise God for bolstering George in the near term, but to share an insight I've had recently that perhaps we all need to change our expectations.

In the past 4-5 years, I've had 2 bouts of unemployment even with advanced degrees, a solid work history and a strong work ethic. It has been devastating emotionally above the havoc that resulted economically. This is NOT what I've been raised to expect would happen to me at age 60.

George and I have corresponded as have others and I know others joined me in interpreting extended unemployment as a personal statement of their worth in God's eyes.

God's taught me resoundingly that nothing is further from the truth. Jobs are largely of this man's world. Even when I was out of work, I found ways to minister to others, but I didn't find JOY in that...I was too focused on "woe is me." Shame on me!

I wanted my words to show that people in our country wanted change...and we've gotten it. Peter Drucker in the 70's wrote that, "...the only constant will be constant change...tellin ourselves to "hold on" till it's over is false hope as change will become the constant..."

That was 40 years ago. I've recently come through a dark tunnel of doubt and realized my employment, given my depth and breadth of skills and my willingness to do most anything I can, is more about economics and politics and not that God is punishing me.

If anything, the time without work has been a learning time for me to finally realize that worldly things are not what God seeks from me, nor for me... He isn't punishing me, He loves me...and He loves all of US!

While I rejoice that George found work...my feeble attempt was aimed at witnessing to the fact that we might all find unemployment one of those areas of "change."

I remember my parents were "children of the depression" and did some pretty menial things to survive throughout their early married lives and much of my childhood. Nobody questioned if it was God punishing them. It was what it was.

Allow me to re-direct my statements to suggest that we all draw closer to God's heart and offer the thought that our economic status is not a system of Godly rewards and punishment.

God wants us to be cheerful givers amidst our own suffering. He calls us through Christ to be thankful even for the tough times to strengthen us for whatever task He may have in the days/years ahead. That is a huge area of growth need for me personally.

I lost sight of that. The job I finally got after 13 months of most recent unemployment is nothing I'd have envisioned myself doing anytime in the past 40 years...and I drive an hour each way for far less money than I've made in 15 years!

Yet, I'm grateful for the income I now have. I don't like the work. I have no faith it will last. But I see it as a time for me to "get my house in order" again and salt what I can.

I wanted to share some of those recent learnings including: 1) that we should not expect that all will be rosey soon...or 2) that things might quickly return to the way they were. 3) We may indeed, as a country, soon learn what it is to struggle more than we've known for 3-4 generations. 4) With the way our current policy makers are eroding the American work ethic and our Christian heritage, we might have to fight a good fight and stop being the silent majority and make our nation "one nation under God" yet again.

Again, my apologies to George for redirecting his thread perhaps. It was never my intent. I post what is on my heart as I pray through each poster's concern or praise.

In hindsight, with the benefit of 20-20 vision hindsight brings, I see it was not presented well and I apologize again for any "downer" it caused.

May God continue to bless this country and all who lift up His Name as supreme ruler and lord of all. May He provide us wisdom to know how to again take charge and lead and how to endure while still offering up praise. An area of much needed growth for me.

Brian, thank you for your unintentional "mirrow" to allow me to redirect.

Peace. Keep the Son in your eyes.

[bear1336]

Lets just Praise the LORD for what we do have, Doc love you like a brother.

In HIS service
Dave

[Benha]

Doc Nock fuhgeddaboutit!

[Doc Nock]

Thanks, George.  Just it is such an honor to participate in this forum, I hate when something from the heart doesn't quite come across right...

[Killdeer]

I haven't read the other thread, Doc, but I'm glad you think you messed up. (huhwhat?   )

Your post here has given me some insight and something to "chew on". If you thought everything had gone swimmingly, you wouldn't have posted this, and I thank you for that.

I will bring you some homemade scrapple this May.
Killdeer  

[Nakohe]

Doc I alwasys enjoy your post. They are eyeopening and inspiring. I too, as you know have bee through two bouts of unemployment in the last year and am now working for far less than I was. I am back to where I was 15 years ago and did not think and 59 I would have to be doing this again, but even though I hate where I am having to work, I do thank the Lord for providing a job to surrvie with. I do hope our great nation can come back to being "One Nation Under God" again also. Bless you brother.

[Ray Hammond]

Doc,

I realize that our attitudes and points of view are shaded by experience: they must be.

However, in reading between the lines of your post, I have to say I am diametrically opposed to your view of "our situation".

Yes, things don't look great- but just as quickly as things went bad, things can and will improve.

The American spirit is indomitable-

YES- since the 60's, politicians have worked hard to change the face of America, and at the same time turned politics from service to a nation into a business.  

I, however, see a groundswell of right-minded thinking taking hold - there is time, and a growing will to right things before its too late.

I cannot and will not believe the American people are stupid enough to not see this is our last best chance to make things right.  If we don't, of course, we are doomed- but I just don't believe that's so.

Like my faith in God, I have faith in our nation and more importantly, its people.

Political correctness, the socialist takeover of our educational system to dumb down our children, the forced exodus of American manufacturing to foreign shores to escape the onerous burdens of government and to eliminate our middle class so they can turn this country into a nation of haves and have nots, are all part of the plans of the professional politician to take control of our very lives.

I believe that God has bigger plans for this nation, however- yes, we've lost our way temporarily, but I don't believe as some do that the end is here, or that this nation has reached its zenith and is now waning, to become a second class player on the world stage.

I didn't read your original post where you feel you transgressed, but I also know you bring a great deal of faith and positives to this forum and don't think you should be so hard on yourself.

[Doc Nock]

Thought this one died and went away, Ray...but you bring up good, maybe even...GREAT points. Thanks, Brother!  

Living amongst the E. Seaborad cities, perhaps I've lost some hope. Traditional values have seemingly been so very lost.

What worries me most, Ray, is that ranging from those who have nothing to those with great education who fancy themselves the "intellectual elite" there has been a noticable drift away from believing in hard work and just deserts. I've met with such rancor towards anything conservative that there is this blind race toward anything that promises/promised "change" without critical assesment.

Eric Fromm wrote "Escape from Freedom" back in the 70's I believe and postulated how there has been a cycle whereby people want more and more done FOR them, wish to take less and less responsibility for their own quality of life, and give up personal freedoms for govt. provided socialized securities and protection, ...until they've lost their freedoms.

I will focus on your next to last paragraph wherein you lay claim to "...God having bigger plans for this nation".  What a delightful thought and I echo that as a prayer.

May God indeed, yet have something better planned for this Nation than to succumb as ancient and modern nations did so often before us. We have indeed, met the enemy and it is US.

Lord in your Mercy, show us YOUR WILL and give us strength to heed your still small voice. Amen

Thanks for the heartfelt challenge to buck up and be more positive. I needed that, Ray!

[kill shot]

you seem to be a great man Doc Nock