Today marks a major turning point in our lives.\u00a0 For the first time since I can\u2019t remember when, we will officially be without insurance.\u00a0 No\u00a0 benefits.\u00a0 Nothing.\u00a0 With four active boys, that isn\u2019t a feeling that keeps me warm and fuzzy.\u00a0 We\u2019re still plodding along, applying and applying for jobs.\u00a0 But so far, the offers just aren\u2019t there.\u00a0 We could settle for smaller paying jobs and work several of them, but even there we\u2019ve had difficulties.\u00a0 Because of the salaries we made, folks are unwilling to believe we won\u2019t bolt the first chance we get to snag a better paying job.\u00a0 I can\u2019t lie and say otherwise.\u00a0 Even if I did, I don\u2019t think they would believe me.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
I have applied for some positions in our diocese recently,\u00a0in parishes, in\u00a0various ministries and apostolates,\u00a0as well as the diocese itself,\u00a0but thus far, they have come through with a \u2018thanks but no thanks\u2019 letter.\u00a0 Not even so much as an interview.\u00a0 Why I can\u2019t even breach the walls of a sit down interview \u2013 or even a phone interview \u2013 is something I can\u2019t figure.\u00a0 At this point it is one of two possibilities.\u00a0 Either the fact that I was a former Protestant clergy means absolutely nothing, or the fact that I was a former Protestant clergy is itself the problem.\u00a0 Either way, my only hope now lies in the secular work force, a work force peopled by increasingly secularized younger HR folks who either have little experience with religious life, or in keeping with the post-modern tendencies, see religion itself as a major detriment to good will and positive contributions to society. <\/p>\n
Therefore, as the last and final savings account quickly dwindles, and the only option left is to raid what paltry 401Ks we have, the only thing left is diligence on our part and prayers on everyone\u2019s part.\u00a0 When\u00a0I became Catholic, the one thing I didn\u2019t want was to have it negatively impact our children.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t want them to see it as the point when everything went to hell in a hand basket. God, I guess, is not without a sense of irony.\u00a0 It\u2019s also tough because some of those who were critical of our decision are able to sit back and gloat about how well this decision has turned out for us.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Nonetheless, Truth is Truth.\u00a0 I would rather be able to enjoy my Catholic walk with a job and some benefits, but I know I\u2019m not the only one out there hurting.\u00a0 I know others are in the pews worrying about the same things we are.\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019m looking forward to losing our home or ending up wherever we may end up.\u00a0 Nor does it mean I don\u2019t worry that our children, our two oldest at least, are beginning to openly wonder about the wisdom of our entrance into Catholicism.\u00a0 But it is what it is.\u00a0 I have made my decision, and can only hope that my wife\u2019s efforts and mine will open up something, that someone will hear and help us through a door, that something will occur to save us from the inevitability that seems to be approaching us at this hour.<\/p>\n
In thinking this, I\u2019m reminded that in olden days, today was the day of St. Raymond Nonnatus.\u00a0 He lived at time of hostility and strife between Christians and the Moors.\u00a0 He assumed the role of ransoming Christians who had been seized by the Moors, only to become a prisoner himself when he refused to leave for safety.\u00a0 Instead of leaving some Christian behind in captivity, he used himself to ransom those Christians who were left.\u00a0 While there, he continued to work to convert the Moors to the Faith.\u00a0 Needless to say, they were none too happy about this development.\u00a0 Here in an excerpt of what occurred:<\/p>\n
\u201cHis own life was now in great danger. The Moors of Algiers were enraged that he had managed to convert some of their number. The governor would have put him to death by impaling the saint on a stake. What saved him were others who realized that a rich ransom would be paid for this particular Christian. Even so, he was still whipped publicly in the streets \u2014 partly to discourage those who might be tempted to learn from him the Christian faith.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
So there you have it.\u00a0 Could I return to my old Protestant faith for jobs and security?\u00a0 Sure.\u00a0 It probably wouldn\u2019t take long at all.\u00a0 Just the testimony of \u2018I was once lost (was Catholic) but now am found (Protestant) would get me a string of speaking engagements.\u00a0 In fact, some time ago, I ran into an old colleague who offered me a position in his church.\u00a0 Right there in Kroger.\u00a0 It was tempting then, and it would be more than tempting if it happened today.\u00a0 But I\u2019ve made my commitment, and I believe that the historical Faith of the Church is True.\u00a0 So here I stand.\u00a0 I\u2019ve endured far less than scourging, and nothing close to being impaled on a stake.\u00a0 But hopefully somehow, some way, somebody will come in and by the grace of God ransom us from the edge of the pit.\u00a0 That\u2019s my prayer.\u00a0 St. Raymond Nonnatus, pray for us!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Today marks a major turning point in our lives.\u00a0 For the first time since I can\u2019t remember when, we will officially be without insurance.\u00a0 No\u00a0 benefits.\u00a0 Nothing.\u00a0 With four active boys, that isn\u2019t a feeling that keeps me warm and fuzzy.\u00a0 We\u2019re still plodding along, applying and applying for jobs.\u00a0 But so far, the offers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2805,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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