And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. - 1 Kings 18:21
Life is full of contrasts, and apparent contradictions. There's the contrast between black and white, a red cardinal against a fresh blanket of white snow, the earthquake devastation in Haiti against the "apparent" calm of America, and the contrasting seasons between Australia, currently beginning spring, to our ending fall in the western hemisphere. That contrast was dramatically demonstrated recently.
The last day of winter in 2010 gave us an afternoon of 60+ degree warmth, sunshine and a mild breeze. I shed my sweater just to complete some overdo tasks in the yard. A half and hour later, the wind came up and the temperature dropped steadily through nightfall. The first morning of spring greeted us with 30 mph wind gusts, 2 inches of blowing snow and 22 degrees. Quite a contrast in less than a 24 hour period.
Another dramatic contrast hitting a little closer to home is the one between the comfortably employed and the displaced workers (and/or under-employed), currently numbering over 31,000,000 workers in the United States ( http://cohort11.
How do the employed respond to the displaced or under-employed with the additional stalker of Obama Care? Indifference mostly. Yes, some are concerned and making efforts to alleviate their struggle. But over all, most shrug their shoulders as if nothing can be done and go on as if things will eventually take care of themselves. Some will remark that it's their problem or they aren't looking hard enough. Others comment that they lack incentive due to being "bailed out" by Unemployment Insurance" and need to "just get any job to have something coming in." In all, they appear to basically be saying the 90's theme of "I've got mine." Hmmmm.
Here we have the contradiction! If people had responded indifferently to the Philippine's plight, they would have been demonize, ridiculed, labeled as insensitive, inhumane, uncaring, selfish, etc. But in America it appears to be acceptable to be as those in our text, "And the people did not answer him a word."
It's as if the employed think if they respond to the need of the displaced worker it is somehow an admission of guilt due to their "security" of holding a job. They too fear being labeled as condescending to a "career-challenged" class. On the other hand, if they say or do nothing it will all go away as if it never happened. So they silently slink off breathing lightly so as to not be noticed. But Obama Care may strike them unaware as well.
In reality, it really does not matter which side of the employment question you are on. What does matter is where your trust or confidence rests. In Dan Miller's "48 Days to the Work You Love" he writes, "Do you see change as a provider of new opportunities or as a threat to expected security?"
As the employed lay snug in their padded "security blanket" of a job or career, the under employed or unemployed fight tooth and nail for something to sustain their families. Perhaps the ravages of Obama Care will unsettle the comfy with a discomforting taste of loss, or level the playing field some, which will awaken them to the even heavier weighted job seekers. Just perhaps a cold slap of reality might just awaken some of the drowsy Americans up.
Romans 13:11 shouts, And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Good advice.
Another dramatic contrast hitting a little closer to home is the one between the comfortably employed and the displaced workers (and/or under-employed), currently numbering over 31,000,000 workers in the United States ( http://cohort11.
How do the employed respond to the displaced or under-employed with the additional stalker of Obama Care? Indifference mostly. Yes, some are concerned and making efforts to alleviate their struggle. But over all, most shrug their shoulders as if nothing can be done and go on as if things will eventually take care of themselves. Some will remark that it's their problem or they aren't looking hard enough. Others comment that they lack incentive due to being "bailed out" by Unemployment Insurance" and need to "just get any job to have something coming in." In all, they appear to basically be saying the 90's theme of "I've got mine." Hmmmm.
Here we have the contradiction! If people had responded indifferently to the Philippine's plight, they would have been demonize, ridiculed, labeled as insensitive, inhumane, uncaring, selfish, etc. But in America it appears to be acceptable to be as those in our text, "And the people did not answer him a word."
It's as if the employed think if they respond to the need of the displaced worker it is somehow an admission of guilt due to their "security" of holding a job. They too fear being labeled as condescending to a "career-challenged" class. On the other hand, if they say or do nothing it will all go away as if it never happened. So they silently slink off breathing lightly so as to not be noticed. But Obama Care may strike them unaware as well.
As the employed lay snug in their padded "security blanket" of a job or career, the under employed or unemployed fight tooth and nail for something to sustain their families. Perhaps the ravages of Obama Care will unsettle the comfy with a discomforting taste of loss, or level the playing field some, which will awaken them to the even heavier weighted job seekers. Just perhaps a cold slap of reality might just awaken some of the drowsy Americans up.
Romans 13:11 shouts, And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Good advice.
