For anyone out of reach of a fulfilling career.

For anyone out of reach of a fulfilling career.
Or why we should encourage interdependence as opposed to independence.

This is for the person working their butt off to get a degree that might be useless and all the while worrying about the future. This is for the couple who just found out they are going to have a baby, but doesn't know how to support this child, and may feel like this is the end of all their big plans. This is for the high school, college, or university graduate who doesn't know what he or she wants to do next. This is for the one who has been looking for  job for so long that they have begun to lose hope. This is for the person whose been going from job to job for a while now and is feeling like they should be doing something bigger. This is for the one who works a handful of part time jobs just to support their family and make those ends meet. This is for the stay at home mom whose husband just died. This is for the person whose financial security has suddenly been shattered by pay cuts, layoffs, bankrupt business, or serious health problems. This is for the one who cannot afford retirement and is regretting the lack of stable income throughout their life. In short this is for anyone out of reach of a fulfilling career. It is very likely that this could be for you, but it is DEFINATELY for me.

As far as I see it, we basically have two options:

1. Research till our eyes fall out of their sockets in order to find that job that a) we enjoy b) pays what we need or want c) has long term potential and (if we are as hard on ourselves when it comes to morality as we are when it comes to academics, finances, and work ethic) d) seems like it will allow us to make a positive impact on the world, and then work our butts off trying to grasp this job.

Or

2. Say forget it, shrug our shoulders, and just go wherever life takes us.

Now there are pros and cons to both of these options. I've chosen option number 2 and I'm going to explain why in a moment. However, I would like to say right now that, if you have chosen option number 1, that is totally fine. For your sake I hope you are able to come up with that dream job, able to get it, able to keep it, and that it makes you happy. For me, I can't find a dream job, and I'm not sure I want one, so I'm going with option number 2. The only problem with this option is if life just doesn't take you anywhere. Well I guess life will always take you somewhere, but that somewhere might be homelessness, or living in your mother's house.

Option number 2 may still be better and here is why. (I'm doing this backwards because a. is the toughest point to discuss)

d) For those wanting a job that seems like it will allow us to make a positive impact on the world:
My dad sold pens and when he died the funeral home was filled. My cousin collected a bunch of memories and notes from all his friends, family, and customers and gave them to us in a beautiful book. This is what I learned: you can make a difference doing anything. I used to think that you needed to be in activism or politics and make a really big change in the way things are done in order for your life to be worthwhile, but I don't think that anymore. Here is why: you can't legislate love.
Back in the old testament God's ways (bear with me for a second and just go with the presumption that God's ways are good) were law but nobody really paid attention. People went astray. What changes people's behaviours? (From a Christian perspective) The love of Christ changes our hearts and this is what changes our behaviour. I can't just pass a law saying how the world should be. Even if the majority could agree on what the laws should be (I.E. what is right and good behaviour), there will still always be evil people whose hearts won't match up with the laws and they just won't obey them. Sure we could kill these people or toss them in jail but that doesn't fix the heart problem which I believe pervades in less noticeable ways in even the most innocent of lives. I believe love fixes the heart problem and I believe true love comes from God. Maybe you can't get with this way of thinking, and that's cool. I wish you the best of luck on your endeavors to make the world a better place, but for me I just want to get to know the love of Jesus and let it change me and fill me so I can walk in His ways, no matter where I am or what I'm doing, loving everyone with the love of Jesus. As far as I can see, that is a way I could change the world even from the receiving line of a soup kitchen.

c) and b) For all those wanting a job that b) pays what we need or want and c) has long term potential:
These two are related because even if you manage to achieve b) there is still always that worry that it won't last. First off I would like to say that if your worry here is just finding a job that pays what you WANT I challenge you to live on less. However, if you are actually struggling to keep yourself and your loved ones clothed, housed, and fed, I understand. That sucks and if you think the way out of this dark time is through a job change, well I support you and if there is something I might be able to do for you as you work through this time, let me know. However, in my observations of this here universe I have noticed that things often (not always, but often) have a way of working out and people often (again not always) have a way of making it through. You have to understand that I am speaking to myself on this one. I'm not trying to minimize your crappy situation, I get that poverty is a real problem, but I think I may be unrealistically afraid of homelessness and I'm trying to reassure myself by saying that no matter what happens it will probably work out. I may have to go back home for a while or couch surf for a while or work a super duper crappy job for a while, but it will probably work out. (Even if it doesn't, it just might be possible to find joy when you are homeless, but more on that in section a.) One thing I would like to say, while we are on the subject of money, is that I think our society may need a shift in thinking. Maybe instead of trying to raise up independent hardworking people we need to raise up a generation of people who take care of each other. As far as I can see, most people have times where they need help and times where they can help. If we encourage people to make careful decisions about their future and then work hard towards those goals we may encourage them on a path of hating themselves if they fail, and on a path of no generosity. I'm all for interdependence not independence.

a) For those looking for a job that they can enjoy: Actually, I'm not going to say much about this one. I don't know where happiness/ joy/ peace/ or contentment comes from. Does it come from God? Is it a choice? Is it completely or a little bit based on circumstances? Does it come from within yourself? Is it all about being positive or thankful? I don't know, I'm still struggling with metaphorical and emotional mountains and lack of joy but all I know is I've had awesome jobs that I enjoyed, and I was still miserable. So if a job you enjoy makes you happy, cool beans, and if you are convinced that there is no way to enjoy your miserable job, I'm sorry to hear that, but I would challenge you to at least consider the possibility that happiness is equally attainable or unattainable no matter what job you have and that every job is going to have things you like and things you don't.

Well that's it folks. I'd love to hear what you have to say on the matter. If you made it this far you are truly awesome thanks for reading my thoughts.