Dear Patricia:

I first told the following story in a Bible Study in around 1988:

There was a unemployed family man who, over the course of a year, submitted hundreds of applications and resumes without a single invitation for interview. He was getting desperate as he had a family to clothe and feed and running out of all resources.

He thought that maybe the reason he was never invited to an interview is because of his Christian ethic. He always told he truth on this job applications. You see, he had committed a felony many years ago. Whenever an application asked, "Have you been convicted of a felony?" he always answered "yes."

Finally after one year of unemployment and his kids getting hungry he gave in. He decided to lie and reply "no" to the felony conviction question on his next job application . He was desperate.

He started walking down the street intending to go into every business on the block to apply for work. The first business he came to was a convenience store. He walked into the store, asked for an application, lied on the felony question, and handed-in the application. The manager looked over the application, asked him a few questions, and hired him on the spot.

The man went immediately home happy and smiling telling his wife he found a job. The job paid only $10/hour, but after a year unemployed this was a blessing from God -- he thought.

Now, as Paul Harvey use to say, for the rest of the story...

While he did not know it t the time (though God knew it), the business next door to the convenience store was owned by a man who specifically looked for ex-cons to hire.

The morale of the story? If the man had maintained his Christian ethic and trust in God he would have told the truth on the convenience store application and he would have denied the $10/hour job. When that happened he would have then walked to the next the business, owned by the man looking for ex-cons to hire. In telling the truth we would have had a job at this business.

And the salary he would have earned: $50,000 per year.

(1 Cor 10:13)  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

(Rom 8:28)  We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary