Un-Re-Re

There seems to be a big disconnect in America between the nearly continuously employed and the chronically unemployed.  The workers feel a need to work so that they and their families can have a roof over their heads and eat, and many of those who would actually rather not work expect the rest of us to give them the means of support.  Not everyone fits into these nice, neat categories.  Some can't work and others shouldn't work, the handicapped, or, the 'other-abled.'  I bet you know plenty of people who have lost their jobs!

I just met a young single man who lost his temporary job, along with many others in his company.  He is currently obsessed with finding a job.  And, he is also studying for another certification in his field.  He's very intelligent, hard-working, clean, nice-looking, and friendly.  He certainly will be one of the first to find another job.  He also has his friends and former co-workers helping him look for jobs.  His wide network of friends is helping him live between jobs.  An important advantage this single man possesses: he is willing to re-locate anywhere there is a new job.

Then there is the husband of a friend who has been unemployed for FOUR YEARS!  He has a college degree that is now obsolete.  After he lost his job, he seriously looked for another for several months.  His wife is working very hard but is afraid they have reached the limit of their savings and will lose their house soon.  She wants him to get a job - any job - that will bring in any income.  But he insists he needs a job "in his own field."  Why won't this guy get additional training!!  In this time, he could have gotten another college degree!  The man and woman fight so much over his lack of any job, I fear their marriage won't last much longer.  In former years, before all this "women's liberation" idiocy, men had to much pride to let themselves be supported by a woman.  Now, we hear of men seeking alimony from their working wives!!

Another friend is a young single woman who, two years ago, was fresh out of college with a degree in a field she loved.  However, her field was highly specialized and there were NO jobs in her area.  She was unwilling to relocate. After a year of unemployment, she went back to school for certification in another field, totally unrelated to her first degree.  She was unemployed for yet another year.  Yet she never gave up looking for a job in her second field.  Two months ago she was hired.  The company is very careful to give most of their workers the number of hours just short of full-time work so they won't have to pay benefits.  She is doing very, very well in her new job and loves it.  She hopes that in time, she will be one of the few in the company who have full-time jobs with benefits.

Being employed does wonders for a person's frame of mind!  The formula to get a job these days seems to be:  Unemployed? = ReEducate yourself = ReEmployment.  Not easy, but effective!

Dear God in Heaven, our world seems to be turned upside down in so many ways!  Please help us help each other in any way we can!