Wilting Branches of Employment

As I often say, “It’s a good day when you plant a tree”. On a beautiful Saturday in July, I thought today is a good day. As I looked to the east, there was a perfect spot for a tree that I had been saving for just such an occasion. The tree, a beautiful Forest Pansy Redbud with maroon leaves and lavender flowers had been growing in an old Spring-ring container that prevents roots from spiraling with an underlining of geotech fabric that allows roots to penetrate but restricts the size of the root by a girdling technique. Getting crowded in its home at the nursery it was time to move.

The day was cool with temperatures in the 60’s, however a heat wave was coming in a few days. The Redbud was lush with new foliage and I knew that the transplanting was going to shock it as about 1/3 of the root system would be lost. I also knew that because of the growing method that the roots would be able to recover soon and decided to proceed. Now I also knew that there were things that could be done to minimize the shock – additives for the roots to absorb, anti-transpirants to protect the leaves, and pruning that could help reduce the demand on the root system. I decided to go ahead without doing anything additional and observe what happens.

The first two days had no noticeable problems. The leaves were still healthy and vibrant. However, on the 3rd day the heat arrived getting into the upper 90’s. There was just too much demand on the resources of the tree and leaves began to wilt. Additional watering helped but the root system could not sustain the loss as the tree struggled to keep up with the demand. It was time to go into survival mode. The tree seemed to cut off resources to the upper leaves and branches first, then to other various leaves and branches. Once stabilized, the tree allocated energy into expanding the root system, thus increasing its ability to give sustenance. Soon the tree started putting out new growth amid the many browning leaves still hanging and began the road back to recovery.

I thought how comparable this example is to someone losing employment or suffering a business crisis. Our means of sustenance has been compromised. With our ability to sustain drastically reduced, becoming less that the demand upon it, we begin to suffer. In an employment situation there is an immediate affect on the temporal needs – food, shelter, transportation, and clothing. Physical, mental, and emotional health also suffer as does relationships with family and friends along with spiritual and intellectual growth.

At first, we may have enough reserves to get by for a while but eventually as the heat comes, taking with it all the sustenance we can provide and more, we start to wilt. We at first cut back on unnecessary expenses and commitments to shed those leaves. Looking at the situation, our geotechnical engineer new zealand best solution is to increase our ability to sustain and put energy into that. With the restriction of the container and fabric gone and with our roots strong and positioned to expand, we will soon have sustenance again to start rebuilding the branches and leaves, growing beyond our past circumstance.

I use this analogy in relation to our own preparedness, temporally and spiritually, and to the process outlined in the LDS Employment Resources website. The system combines both an individual effort and a group effort. Have you ever wondered why there were no poor in Zion? Elder Daniel H. Wells in Journal of Discourses, 23:305 stated: When we shall prove ourselves faithful in every emergency that may arise, and capable to contend and grapple with every difficulty that threatens our peace and welfare, and to overcome every obstacle that may tend to impede the progress of the Church and kingdom of God upon the earth, then our heavenly Father will have confidence in us, and then he will be able to trust us.

Richard C. Edgley in a talk titled “This is Your Phone Call”, April 2009 stated: Stake presidents, bishops, elders quorum presidents, and high priests group leaders-we now call upon you to mobilize our priesthood quorums in response to the employment and financial challenges facing our members. President Gordon B. Hinckley, while a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said: “I am satisfied, my brethren, that there is enough of expertise, of knowledge, of strength, of concern in every priesthood quorum to assist the troubled members of that quorum if these resources are properly administered.

The process calls for the Bishop, Elders Quorum President, Relief Society President, High Priest Group Leader, and Employment Specialist(s) to coordinate the resources of the ward with the employment needs of the individual. Resources may include time, talents, and skills.

The individual must first register on the site (ldsjobs.org) and fill out all pertinent information. I suggest that they have others review the information to make suggestions particularly as it relates to finding the information in a search. I also highly suggest attendance at the 2 day career workshop which is held every other week at the Portland LDS Employment Center. Self employment workshops may also be scheduled.

The Bishop, Elders Quorum President, Relief Society President, High Priest Group Leader, and Employment Specialist(s) must also register on the site and fill out all pertinent information, including frequency of receiving reports. Working together with a plan devised by the individual, this group works to assist and coordinate their efforts. See the “site map” portion of the site for informational articles and videos. Those efforts should be captured by selecting the individual on the site and entering information in the “add a note” section. Reports are sent as per each leader’s selection choice in an email. Thus, the efforts of each group along with the Employment Center can be coordinated in a more efficient manner.