The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I've been thinking about the correlation between God's grace and mercy and a sense of entitlement. Since God's Grace is him giving us things we don't deserve and his Mercy is him not giving us what we do deserve.
In social service work I see clients who determine in their own mind (and are taught by the system) that they deserve or it is their "right" to have certain services- "free" stuff (or rather stuff other tax payers supply... this fact is never mentioned in my career ciricle) but I also see some clients who view their services as a "hand up" a chance to get on their own feet, a blessing that helps them reach their full potential and those people usually benefit more from services. Those people typically "work their way out of" needing services. It's awesome.
I also see people who need help and because of who they are, what they look, who they are not, these people do not get services that other people have access to because the agencies are not as motivated to help them find out how to access the system. Example a person who worked a blue collar job for 15+ years full time, earned her own way in life and now is dependent on family because of a severe illness gets little help because the extended family (although it is very difficult) can manage to take care of her. Eventually funds will run low and the whole family will be less able to contribute to the free enterprise system or what is left of it and live independently because of the lack of help available to the person they are providing for... because this person wasn't the right "type" to receive help (another post entirely I think).
I also see social service state employees who behave as if they are entitled to their paycheck and I rarely see social service workers who feel they are obligated to earn their paycheck- when I do it is awesome and wonderful and those people are so very rare I wish I had the power to hang a gold star around their neck (I do not have that power).
The agency I work for is going through transition and rather than sit tight and see how it all plays out in state legislation they agencies themselves seem to be choosing now to move employees around, make huge policy changes and basically scramble things up...therefore causing more stress on workers. A few will take it in stride, do their jobs to the best of their ability and see what happens in the end (these people will probably land on their feet no matter what) if their job disappears they will likely just get a new one, maybe even in the private sector. They may initially earn less money or not have as many benefits but these few survivors will find a way to work their way up in a new job or keep their eyes open for the next better opportunity-they will work for what they get- these are the survivors, these are the few, the brave and usually the ones who have a faith based system that assures them that there is a power greater than humans that is in control of all things.
God's Grace and Mercy can be depended on, trusting him just makes it so. Having a sense of entitlement to government funds or a sense of entitlement to a paycheck from a government job does not make it so...
Just sharing my thoughts as I too struggle with all that is happening and think I may need to refer back to this... I'll probably share more, thanks for being a place where I can.
(((.Glad)) Thanks for sharing your thoughts. and observations .I too have reflected on these issues at times and been involved in painful reorganizations at my Company.
I know that by keeping the focus on myself, letting go and letting God, and practicing. Step 11, "praying only for knowledge of his will and the power to carry it out," I was able to walk through those challenging times with courage serenity and wisdom.
