We humans can be a judgmental lot. It seems our favorite hobby has become having strong opinions and expressing them self-righteously. A couple of threads on Facebook caught my attention and caused me to think deeply. Both have to do with working: whether people will work if there is a job to be had, and reasons they may not take a job if available. What has caused me to ponder are those who say people won’t work if they can get more on welfare. In my almost seven decades, I have not known anyone who would not work if it is possible. Now, I have known people who take a job and it turns out their physical condition is such that they cannot handle doing it. I’ve watched a loved one do a hard day’s work and then it would take three days to recover from it. Then there are people who are mentally unable to be around others. Reasons such as PTSD and agoraphobia keep many from gainful employment, and these problems could be interpreted as being “not willing to work”. Then there are instances when a person will have to pay as much in child care costs as they can bring in from any job they can do. I’m sure I could think of at least ten reasons why working can be next to impossible. This pandemic has helped us to see outside the structured work ethics we have set for ourselves, and this is a great thing indeed! We are expanding our ideas concerning the meaning of “gainfully employed”. There is much for us to learn, but one thing I’m sure of: it’s time to examine everything we’ve always believed to be true. Simply because things have always been done a certain way doesn’t mean they always should be done that way. Change is good and I’m thrilled to witness this evolution of thought!
photo credit: Steve Shogren
We humans can be a judgmental lot. It seems our favorite hobby has become having strong opinions and expressing them self-righteously. A couple of threads on Facebook caught my attention and caused me to think deeply. Both have to do with working: whether people will work if there is a job to be had, and reasons they may not take a job if available. What has caused me to ponder are those who say people won’t work if they can get more on welfare. In my almost seven decades, I have not known anyone who would not work if it is possible. Now, I have known people who take a job and it turns out their physical condition is such that they cannot handle doing it. I’ve watched a loved one do a hard day’s work and then it would take three days to recover from it. Then there are people who are mentally unable to be around others. Reasons such as PTSD and agoraphobia keep many from gainful employment, and these problems could be interpreted as being “not willing to work”. Then there are instances when a person will have to pay as much in child care costs as they can bring in from any job they can do. I’m sure I could think of at least ten reasons why working can be next to impossible. This pandemic has helped us to see outside the structured work ethics we have set for ourselves, and this is a great thing indeed! We are expanding our ideas concerning the meaning of “gainfully employed”. There is much for us to learn, but one thing I’m sure of: it’s time to examine everything we’ve always believed to be true. Simply because things have always been done a certain way doesn’t mean they always should be done that way. Change is good and I’m thrilled to witness this evolution of thought!
"The conceptions of mortal, erring thought must give way to the ideal of all that is perfect and eternal. Through many generations human beliefs will be attaining diviner conceptions, and the immortal and perfect model of God's creation will finally be seen as the only true conception of being." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 260:7
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