This - true believers - will be a cognitive burst of rapidly fired ideas and observations based on real-world scenarios...
Cases Sans Points
I have a brother who is a trained and skilled electrician - who has not had much success, because of the economy, in finding work in that field. The handicap is that he is such a gentle man, and wanting to accommodate his stay-at-home wife (and thusly, his two in-home children), that he stays in Louisville, KY, and is currently a security guard, as a "new norm".
We have a niece (also) who is a nurse - trying to get enough hours at her job in Michigan after moving up there a few years back to be closer to her dad - her "new norm". By all accounts I hear, she has a solid work ethic and a desire to help others... but the jobs are (in fact) not there, but elsewhere... like in South Carolina, where we have a "nursing shortage".
Our eldest daughter is a youth ministry (emphasis: on camps) graduate student, studying an emphasis in "leadership" for these next two years in Columbia, SC. Throughout her previous four years, she has had multiple internships, worked at churches and programs that she's either partnered with or ran. Regardless of our cumulative desire to see her stay in the local area, we know the LORD will lead her to where the job is. This will be her "new norm".
Basic Instincts
Economists, teachers and recruiters will be all-too-quick to point out that those with certain skill sets should "go to where the jobs are". That works fine in a vacuum - or if you've got more greenbacks than Rockefeller - but, what about the "real world"? How unhappy does one have to be before a move is made? How broke does a family have to go before pride succumbs to necessity? How torn do we have to get over family and finances before traipsing out from the comfort of our hearth and home? How scared are we at the unpalatable prospect of a "new norm"?
My norm... being a veteran - who never states that he's "former military", 'cause the military never leaves you, it has become part of your identity, you are part of the 1% of the nation's population (past and present) who've had the distinct privilege (yes, privilege) of donning the uniform and placing our lives on hold for people of this nation who may not support the set of values, or ideology, you've enlisted for. But, I digress...
Anyway, being a veteran, I'd gotten quite accustomed to packing up and relocating as my indebted "Uncle" deemed my particular skill sets and talents were needed. I understood - more aptly, we (my family and I) understood that there was a purpose to the reassignments. I hit the proverbial ground running, as a result, most often. It was the "norm", it was almost instinctual.
Do What You Gotta Do
I have been unemployed (three times) since leaving the service in 1998 - and with family to boot! Wouldn't wish it upon anyone; but, I see the benefit in it - almost a Depression-era mentality was allowed to grow in those periods of time. We found out what was important toot-sweet.
In the Bible, it states that God's children will have their "needs" met - that (also) His seed shall not go wanting for bread (to eat) - paraphrased, of course. Our "needs" are pretty basic - food, clothing and shelter. However, we, collectively as a society, have gone to great pains to clutter up our lives with the objects, things and (dare I say) idols that become passable (palatable?) as "needs".
It's scary when it looks like you're "starting over" - especially in mid-life - but, there are friends, there are family, and (sometimes) complete strangers right there, ready to help you make that happen... to help you establish a new "norm".
Final Comments
I would weep over the folly of some - for whatever seemingly innocuous reason - who'd chose to stay in a deteriorating situation for the sake of solidifying their new "norm". MMLIA
Cases Sans Points
I have a brother who is a trained and skilled electrician - who has not had much success, because of the economy, in finding work in that field. The handicap is that he is such a gentle man, and wanting to accommodate his stay-at-home wife (and thusly, his two in-home children), that he stays in Louisville, KY, and is currently a security guard, as a "new norm".
We have a niece (also) who is a nurse - trying to get enough hours at her job in Michigan after moving up there a few years back to be closer to her dad - her "new norm". By all accounts I hear, she has a solid work ethic and a desire to help others... but the jobs are (in fact) not there, but elsewhere... like in South Carolina, where we have a "nursing shortage".
Our eldest daughter is a youth ministry (emphasis: on camps) graduate student, studying an emphasis in "leadership" for these next two years in Columbia, SC. Throughout her previous four years, she has had multiple internships, worked at churches and programs that she's either partnered with or ran. Regardless of our cumulative desire to see her stay in the local area, we know the LORD will lead her to where the job is. This will be her "new norm".
Basic Instincts
Economists, teachers and recruiters will be all-too-quick to point out that those with certain skill sets should "go to where the jobs are". That works fine in a vacuum - or if you've got more greenbacks than Rockefeller - but, what about the "real world"? How unhappy does one have to be before a move is made? How broke does a family have to go before pride succumbs to necessity? How torn do we have to get over family and finances before traipsing out from the comfort of our hearth and home? How scared are we at the unpalatable prospect of a "new norm"?
My norm... being a veteran - who never states that he's "former military", 'cause the military never leaves you, it has become part of your identity, you are part of the 1% of the nation's population (past and present) who've had the distinct privilege (yes, privilege) of donning the uniform and placing our lives on hold for people of this nation who may not support the set of values, or ideology, you've enlisted for. But, I digress...
Anyway, being a veteran, I'd gotten quite accustomed to packing up and relocating as my indebted "Uncle" deemed my particular skill sets and talents were needed. I understood - more aptly, we (my family and I) understood that there was a purpose to the reassignments. I hit the proverbial ground running, as a result, most often. It was the "norm", it was almost instinctual.
Do What You Gotta Do
I have been unemployed (three times) since leaving the service in 1998 - and with family to boot! Wouldn't wish it upon anyone; but, I see the benefit in it - almost a Depression-era mentality was allowed to grow in those periods of time. We found out what was important toot-sweet.
In the Bible, it states that God's children will have their "needs" met - that (also) His seed shall not go wanting for bread (to eat) - paraphrased, of course. Our "needs" are pretty basic - food, clothing and shelter. However, we, collectively as a society, have gone to great pains to clutter up our lives with the objects, things and (dare I say) idols that become passable (palatable?) as "needs".
It's scary when it looks like you're "starting over" - especially in mid-life - but, there are friends, there are family, and (sometimes) complete strangers right there, ready to help you make that happen... to help you establish a new "norm".
Final Comments
I would weep over the folly of some - for whatever seemingly innocuous reason - who'd chose to stay in a deteriorating situation for the sake of solidifying their new "norm". MMLIA
