Got the Problem of Job

Coming from a family of Irish immigrants was at times a bit frustrating to me and at the same time a great fascination to my friends. The traditions from the old country were as deeply ingrained in my parent’s daily practices as was their Irish brogue. As an elementary child, I would come home from school with my buddies and always be greeted by my Mom bedecked with an apron worn over her dress. She may have been pulling weeds in the garden or scrubbing the floor, but her outfit was always the same – a dress and an apron. She would come towards us and give us the usual greeting, “Bless you, good to have you home.” She then proceeded to hug me and each of my buddies and finish off saying, “Let me get the kettle on for a spot of tea and slice you some good Irish scone.” In the house she went and never waited for a reply. I would explain to any new buddy what she said and other friends would assure the newbie, “It’s great!” We followed her into the house and found the tea kettle heating on the stove and her setting out china cups and saucers beside a knife for butter and jam and a spoon for our tea. Once the kettle whistled, we were instructed, “Wash your wee hands and sit down and we will chew the fat.” I translated for any unknowing friend with a startled look on his face that we were not really going to eat fat – we were going to talk about the day.    

Mom had many Irish expressions that needed to be interpreted by me. One thing she did not need to have interpreted was her love and concern for my friends. She made all the “wee lads” around the kitchen table not only feel at home but ready to talk about their day. I was often amazed that she found out more about their day than I knew about them, and I was in their class! There were times when one of the guys would share something that was hard about the day. She would respond, “You certainly had the problems of Job today.” I am not sure how many of them knew who Job was, but they got the idea that he had a hard life just like them. She would end the conversation by saying, “I hope your day ends up like Job’s life eventually did.” Sometimes that took a bit of explanation to a buddy not versed in the Bible stories.

     The story of Job has taught me lots of lessons about life over the years. The older I become the more I discover. As circumstances change in my life, new lessons surface. This year as I read the Book of Job I endured along with the rest of the world the Conid-19 pandemic. I heard the faint whisper of my Mom, “You certainly had the problems of Job today.” What lessons from Job came to mind in this season of life? First, I concluded that all I have can be quickly lost. Job lost his wealth, family, position and health in short order. It impresses me, however, he did not lose his perspective saying, “the Lord gave me everything I had, and the Lord has taken it way. Praise the name of the Lord! In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming the Lord” (Job 121-22). In these days, I sometimes feel my perspective is too easily altered by my circumstances and I become cross with God about being house bound and ripped from normality.

     Second, I rediscovered that well-meaning family and friends can do more harm than good. Job’s wife told him to curse God and die (2:9). His friends morphed from comforters to accusers and charged Job with all sorts of shortcomings. Job finally says, “What miserable comforters you are! Won’t you ever stop your flow of foolish words?” (16:2-3). The blogs, emails, media, and advice that flow freely these days become wearisome rather than enlightening. So many espouse their perceptions of what is true and give advice as to what needs to be done. This only adds to my confusion rather than supplying clarification.

     Third, I observed that it is easy to lash out at God and cry out unjust criticisms regarding what is going on in our world. “God, aren’t you in control?” “God, where is the justice in all of this?” “God, where are you?” Job summarized his feelings this way, “If only I knew where to find God” (23:3). In our distresses, disappointments, discouragement, and despair it is easy to lay the blame at the feet of the Leader of the Universe. “Things are out of control,” we cry in our pains, “Do something.”

     Last, I realize again in the time of desperation it is often the best time to make meaningful and lasting discoveries about God and ourselves. Job says, “I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes” (42:5).  C. S. Lewis observed, “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” In this time of a painful pandemic, has God’s megaphone shouted any messages to our lives? Are we listening to what he may be saying to our deaf ears? I am thankful that my Mom repeatedly reminded me that sometimes we have the problems of Job and that is OK.