Your right to employment
Although the economic crisis may appear less intense than before and some economies, like that of the US, seem to be modestly growing, millions of people are still unemployed around the world. The US economy has lost 7.2 million jobs since the beginning of 2008, and 6.1 million people have been unemployed for six months or longer (cnnmoney.com, Jan. 8).
When the number of jobless seems overwhelming, and hope dims, we can pray to the one infinite God for a spiritual outlook and promise that will open us up to fresh opportunities. The Psalmist offers comfort and inspiration by magnifying the expansiveness and abundance of God toward each one of us as His-Her precious children. “Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward:... if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (Ps. 40:5).
By adopting the Psalmist's spiritual viewpoint, we can learn more about our real employment as God’s children, made to rejoice in Him. This spiritual perspective reveals employment as not just a job but as the constant use of all God-given spiritual ideas and faculties. These are innate to our spiritual identity and enable us to produce harmony and good. We can put them into practice wherever we are; they are a sign of our true employment.
Whether we’re in the grocery line or stuck in traffic, we can express joy and patience. Spirituality also gives us dominion over frustration or anger and enables us to be gracious about delays. Living these and other spiritual qualities wherever we are is expressing our God-given identity. It keeps us mentally employed instead of drifting.
This spiritual work helps us be more effective in our jobs and find employment if we’re laid off. We begin to see that our real individuality, always at one with God, is not subject to downsizing or layoffs, can never be lost, and is always needed.
Understanding something more about this employment contributes to the abundance of good we experience and makes our existence and that of others whose lives we touch more meaningful, whether or not we’re employed at the moment.
Expressing grace, alertness, hope, and a greater desire to serve is like shining a light. It opens up thought. It points out the right direction and guides in ways we may never have seen before.
Right now we have the opportunity to see our prospects in Love’s plan, which includes abundant possibilities. This plan is one of unending spiritual good that’s never without the place and resources needed for its accomplishment. This plan doesn’t include rising and falling percentages of usefulness or lack of avenues through which God’s goodness can be expressed. It doesn’t involve waiting for opportunities that may never happen. Mary Baker Eddy, who founded Christian Science, counseled readers of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” which she published in 1875, “Let us then shape our views of existence into loveliness, freshness, and continuity, rather than into age and blight” (p. 246).
Even when the job prospects look bleak, we can pray with conviction that Spirit has created us in His image – wholly spiritual in quality, intent, and aspiration – and has equipped us with all that’s needed to progress and prosper.
