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Things didn’t look good at work. In late summer 2008 the state of South Carolina, where I’d been employed for twenty-two years, struggled with budget problems. All agencies would be cutting expenses, and some might reduce their workforce. The one I served three years as a computer tech, Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities in Greenville, could be one of them.

The next few weeks, my wife, Jenny, and I discussed how a layoff would impact us. Things would be tough: The national economy had begun a severe downturn, with layoffs in the news almost nightly. Jenny worked as a real estate agent but was bringing home little because of the housing market slump. Still, we both came to the same conclusion: If the choice of a layoff came down between my co-worker, Mike Camp, and me, I should be the one to go.

That might sound strange, since I had seniority over Mike in the state system and was within seven years of retiring. But Mike and I had become close friends. Plus I was in my mid-fifties with a grown son; Mike was just forty years old and married with four young children, ages six to ten. The youngest, Aaron, was severely autistic. Over time he had made remarkable progress in therapy. Jenny and I agreed we couldn’t just stand by and let a layoff end a salary and medical benefits the Camp family desperately needed.

As we prayed about the matter, we found guidance in the Scriptures: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends,” Jesus said (John 15:13, NIV). Though I wasn’t literally laying down my life for Mike, I did see my job as part of my life. Would I let it go for Mike’s sake?

We also read, “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Luke 17:33, NIV). It’s natural to protect yourself when hardship comes along. Could Jesus be telling me that self-sacrifice was the best way to preserve my life?

Those scriptures, plus prayer, cemented our decision. I notified Governor’s School that, if someone had to be eliminated, I would take the layoff for Mike. God’s peace held us steady.

As weeks went by and the economy worsened, the school began laying off some part-time, non-permanent staff. When I returned to work from a short vacation in October, rumors circulated around the school that I would be laid off. Sure enough, the Friday before Thanksgiving break, I was called to the human resources office and told that my job was being cut. “Why don’t you think about it over the weekend,” the HR director suggested, referring to my offer to take the layoff for Mike. But I didn’t need to think about it; my mind was made up.

I got home around 4:30 that afternoon — earlier than usual. Jenny took one look at me and knew instantly I’d been let go. I wasn’t sure how she’d react: With the real estate meltdown, she needed help with her personal bills. I knew this decision would financially hurt her as well as me.

When I explained the circumstances to Jenny, she told me, “There isn’t anything else you could have done.” That relieved me so much. We both knew my taking the layoff was the right thing to do and that God would provide for us someway.

All this time I thought the layoff was just between the Camps and us, but Mike’s mother contacted Good Morning America about it. In December, the whole story came out with Mike’s family, Jenny, and me on national TV — the Camps’ way of saying thanks. I was surprised and embarrassed by all this attention, since we hadn’t intended for this to go any further than my co-worker and his family.
It saddened me for our nation, that what we did would be considered a big deal. Not long ago it would have been considered part of the “American way,” but now people considered it newsworthy. Has compassion died in America? Perhaps it’s declining, but my heart says that many others are doing similar things, without notice.

Jenny and I received many e-mail messages, blog posts, and well wishes after that TV appearance. The comments ranged from “My faith in humanity has been restored” to “You have shown us what a true Christian example is.” Though grateful that others were inspired by what they’d seen or heard, I agonized over why the spotlight should be on me and how to focus all the praise on God our Father. This led me to think of Jesus’ words:

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. . . . In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16, NIV).

The next few months of job searching proved tough. I had been without work when our son was young, so I knew things wouldn’t be easy. But at the time of my layoff from the school, South Carolina ranked second in the nation for unemployment. I filed applications online and fought discouragement when no work came through. To make things worse, Jenny didn’t have one house sale during that time. We depended on the prayers of our church family, friends, and concerned strangers. Thanks to them, we continued to thrive on God’s peace. Even on our hardest days neither Jenny nor I regretted my taking the layoff for Mike.

In April our prayers were finally answered: I was offered work from the state at a different agency, and then a second offer came at a higher salary. The job allowed me to reenter the state’s retirement system as well. We know this extra blessing came from God, since most state jobs were frozen at the time.

Looking back, Jenny and I wonder how we survived financially during those five months without work. Except for a small sum given by a friend, we received no assistance from anyone. Through the comfort and providence of our Lord, we made it.

And we learned several lessons along the way. We learned how to support each other during job loss. We learned that sometimes God uses a bad situation to teach what it means to do the right thing. We learned that God is still in charge of the affairs of His people and that He will not abandon His children; He will provide in His time and way if we’re patient.

 

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