Prejudice and discrimination hurts everyone!

PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION HURTS EVERYONE! I know that, firsthand – but I had a certain SOMEONE on my side that my “enemies” didn’t....

When I was “young and dumb” I married a guy who was young and dumb and kept getting busted down in rank. Long story short, I married him, anyway, and thought that, because I was a “Specialist E-5” I would automatically qualify for free, on-post housing.

Wrong! Back in 1971 I was in what was still being called the “Women’s Army Corps” – and women couldn’t get on-post housing. Consequently, we ended up living in a nasty little trailer park on the outskirts of Las Cruces, New Mexico, some 20 miles from White Sands Missile Range where we were both stationed.

That was my first brush with “discrimination.” I was truly devastated and left feeling “less than” because I was a woman.

Fast-forward to 1998, a couple years after God had opened my spiritual eyes, and caused me to sell all my possessions (including my house) and move to Colorado Springs, where I eventually had the good fortune to end up as the associate editor of the Colorado Springs Business Journal. I felt “on top of the world!”

When the editor announced her desire to retire, I naturally “tossed my hat in the ring” to become her replacement. After all, I was amply qualified, having been an Army school-trained journalist/newspaper editor/Public Affairs Office middle manager with 22 years of experience under my belt; as well as having worked at the Webster County Citizen newspaper as feature writer and ad designer after my retirement from the Army …

Well, long story short, instead of making me the editor’s replacement, the two owners/partners of the Colorado Springs Business Journal hired a 21-year-old, brand new college grad with NO experience. Needless to say, I was flabbergasted! I was in my mid-forties and eminently more qualified than this young person! WHY did they hire her? I could only think of two reasons: (1) she was half my age; and (2) since she was a total novice, they were able to hire her for substantially less money than me….

Regardless, I swallowed my pride and allowed them to make this young woman named Amy (with a mouth like a sailor and an ego bigger than the state of Colorado!) my new boss. That lasted all of two weeks, and – not surprisingly - one day, I found myself marching into the owners’ office (after a knock-down-drag-out with the new editor-creature who didn’t know a headline from a byline) to let them know they would have to find someone else for her to mistreat and abuse.

My heels clanked dejectedly on the pavement as I trudged tearfully out of the building, never to return. Me and my old companion, Insecurity, felt rejected, berated, embarrassed and plain ol’ depressed over the whole situation. I had done everything right in my life to be “qualified” for something – and yet, here I was, unemployed, feeling so low I could have walked under a snake’s belly with a top-hat on, and wondering what to do next.

That following Sunday, I went to church as usual, and apologized to Abba for having been whiney for the last week, and assured Him that I DID completely trust Him to guide me in the right direction.

Well, lo and behold, the following week I found myself working in a Classified Documents office in the employ of a contractor for Air Force Space Command – thanks to a man I had met at church who caused me to be hired there. It was in that office at Space Command where YHWH introduced me to a Messianic Jew who introduced me to Torah; and it was there where He ultimately caused me to meet my soul-mate, Bill … both of which I would NOT have found, had I been granted the editorship of the Business journal (Can I hear a “HALLELUYAH!”???)

Anyway, a few months later, one of my former co-workers at the Business Journal called with two pieces of delicious news that restored confidence and self-esteem.

(1) It seems there had been a reason I hadn’t been hired as editor … the two owners were planning to sell the Business Journal, and were trying to “cut corners.” Amy came at a MUCH lower price than I would have!

(2) Amy had been canned after less than six months, because she and her big mouth had single-handedly managed to lose many of the advertisers and their accounts…

All that was GREAT news for me! My faithfulness to YHWH/Yeshua had been rewarded, while “the enemy” had been thwarted! Amy got her just desserts – as did the two owners, who – at the time – had to go through the hiring process all over again for a new editor, as they still had a few months to go before the new owner was taking over the newspaper.

Anyway, I wrote all the above to illustrate the following:

Psalm 43:1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! (ESV)

Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (ESV)

Lamentations 3:25 ADONAI is good to those waiting for him, to those who are seeking him out. 26 It is good to wait patiently for the saving help of ADONAI.. (CJB)

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in ADONAI with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him; then he will level your paths. (CJB)

Job 5:8-16 “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number: he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. (ESV)

Proverbs 17:15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to ADONAI. (CJB)

James 5: 7. But, my Brothers, be patient until the coming of Master YHWH; like the farmer who waits for the precious fruits of his ground and is patient as to them until he receives the early and the latter rain. 8. So also be you patient and build up your hearts, for the coming of our Master (Y’shua) draws near.

9. Have no quarrel one against another, my Brothers, or else you be judged: for behold, the judgment stands before the door. 10. For patience in your great sufferings, my Brothers, take hold of the example of the prophets who spoke in the name of Master YHWH. 11. For behold, we ascribe blessedness to them who have persevered. You have heard of the patience of Job; and you have seen the result which Master YHWH created for him: for Master YHWH is merciful and compassionate. (AENT)