February 12,1997
Dear Br. Roberts:
Thank you for your recent call to Homeward-Bound Family Services concerning the possibility of joining the board of directors. I will send some materials just as soon as I can purchase another color ink cartridge for my printer. This printer drinks colored ink like a wondering man drinks water after several days in the desert.
You mentioned that you are out of work due to problems with the
Sabbath. As you explained your situation, if I can make a guess,
it sounds like you are temporarily homeless, because of your adherence
to the Sabbath.
While I have never had this type of problem, my son-in-law encountered
a problem similar to this. He refused to work at a shop that demanded
Sabbath work and was unemployed for almost a year and a half.
Try as hard as he might, and he did try, he could not seem to
find a job that did not require working on the Sabbath. But persistence
paid off and he is now employed where they do not demand that
he work on the Sabbath.
I can only say, be encouraged, the Lord loves you and will encourage
you in your efforts to find work, but you must not give up in
discouragement. Prayer, without also looking for work, is as a
thirsty man in the desert chasing a mirage. I do not mean to disparage
prayer, but prayer, combined with looking for a job, is more successful
then prayer without looking for a job. The Lord seldom brings
a job to a man but expects the man to go in search of the job.
If you are discouraged, and I can only surmise that you may be
discouraged from the tone of voice and the few things you mentioned
to me, then choose to believe that the Lord loves you and go in
search of the job He has waiting for you.
Perhaps, now that you have some free time, you might invest it
in retraining or investigating other job possibilities or opportunities.
You are never too old to begin a new career. A famous man once
said, “To achieve success, do whatever it takes.” There
are endless possibilities for success just waiting to be explored
and seized by someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to
find and exploit them.
I am beginning a new career, as president of Homeward-Bond, at
age 52 by creating my own job and tailoring it to my needs and
desires. I am not saying that you can do the same thing, but certainly
there are an infinite number of possibilities for a satisfying
career, but you must expend some effort to find them.
Brother Roy, God loves you with an intense, passionate love and
will guide and direct you in your pursuit if you lean fully upon
him and walk out by faith. Venture something and you may discover
many rewards await you of which you least expect. Be a possibility
thinker. Christ was a possibility thinker. He ventured something
for the kingdom of His Father and triumphed most gloriously. You
can also. Encourage yourself with the knowledge that you are deeply
loved by Christ, the angels, and many other people. You are not
alone. May the Lord bless you. Your brother in Christ.
Allen A. Benson