Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Jobs

A group of men and women in ragged clothes stood in front of the unemployment office. Here and there two or three would strike up a conversation, but the topic covered things like the poor quality of government, the high price of groceries and the unjust boss. Most stood with shoulders slopped, heads bent and hands in their pockets, silent in the afternoon heat.

A long legged man who stood head and shoulders above the crowd came to a small group at the back of the line. Quietly he invited them to join him in a walk to the back side of the building. Raising their shoulders to one another they stepped in line behind the stranger and disappeared from the crowd. Those in front of the line were too busy complaining to take notice making no protest.

For several weeks the unemployment process continued as normal. Then early one morning the tall legged man stood on the front step of the unemployment office and made the following announcement. “I have chosen to give my large fortune to a certain number of you.” The line lost its form as everyone crowded near the front waving hands hoping to get the attention of the speaker. “These chosen few are already chosen and have received the wealth I have accumulated over the last fifty years. You may apply to them for any additional benefits you may need.” With that he quickly stepped inside the door and locked it.

The people were furious. They pounded on the door and demanded their rights. Someone picked up a rock and threw it through a window. In a matter of minutes the door was forced open and every windowpane shattered in a million tiny pieces of glass.

Each one fell silent as they pushed their way past the entrance. The building was entirely empty, no chairs, no desks, no telephones, no computers, no faxes, nothing.

Furious, most people stormed out of the building yelling obscenities as they made their way back to their lean-tos. A few fell to their knees on the hard cement and wept. The sun set and the air cooled. Exhausted those who remained in the building found places to sleep on the floor. Near midnight, the moon forming a blue hue through the broken windows, the stranger returned and woke each sleeping form. “Come with me,’ he said gently. “I have prepared a place for you too.”

(Mathew 12: 21; Romans 15:8-12)