As someone whose work career included a number of involuntary stints of being un-employed or under-employed, what I am about to reveal, I hope, will not be viewed as being insensitive to or minimizing of the emotional, social, economic, and spiritual plight of those two groups of blessing-needy and deserving workers.

Nonetheless, I would like to suggest that there is an oft-time invisible third member of the blessing-needy and deserving workers to which I also have belonged.

Know who I have in mind?

During the “worst of times” when I was decidedly overworked, I willingly prayed with the rest of the congregation for the “unemployed” and “underemployed.”

At the same time—as grateful as I was for having a job, under my breath—and sometimes even marginally audibly, I prayed without guilt for the “overemployed”… like me.

Was I alone in this?

What about you? Have you prayed for the over-employed? If not, please consider including them.

I suspect being “over-employed” is a predisposing factor leading to retirement. I know it was for me! Prayer strength to stay became strength to go. Here I am…on my way to going!