Right now our American economy is really bad. The world economy is terrible. They're both probably far worse and far more dangerous to our general welfare than most people realize. Or they were in the not too distant immediate past. But people pulled together as they only do in the most dreadful circumstances, held up against this terrible situation, and are now pushing back with all our physical, emotional, and political might. There is no question that we will beat off this horror, survive to mend our economic wounds, and proceed to advance again as we human beings always do. That's part of what it means to be a human being, growth at all times and in every situation. But the fact that the human race will continue in all its glory doesn't mean there won't be casualties. There are many people who are paying for this economic crisis in real, physical, life-altering ways. The money we all need to survive in our 21st century economic system hasn't been able to reach them, but life's demands still manage to reach us all every day.
While many people are struggling with furloughs, layoffs, frozen business budgets, shattered 401Ks, high insurance costs, and people everywhere looking to save a buck whenever they can, as am I, the life-crushing crises I read about in the newspapers every day finally met me face to face last week.
I have a postal mailbox with one of those popular mail shipping companies for about 4 years now. Everything's been working fine and whenever I go in I always meet the hardworking owners who greet me with a cheery smile. Well, last week one of the owners pulled me aside to tell me they were losing their lease. After 5 years of working 6 days a weeks often till 8 o'clock at night finishing off their paperwork they ran into a problem with their landlord. And even though they have a 5 year option and a large company behind them supporting their efforts in negotiations it looks like they have to move out. I don't know the details of their lease. Everything is usually spelled out pretty specifically in those agreements, and there are at least 3 empty stores in the strip mall, but it looks like their store is right next to a big supermarket which might want to enlarge. There might also be some tax benefit to the landlord in having a loss on their stores not being rented. Who knows? But if these hardworking small business people want to fight it out in court, they don't have the money. And they might lose. If these hardworking business people have to move, they don't have the money. A new store build-out would cost tens of thousands of dollars and very possibly mean a huge rent increase...even in these tough economic times. This all doesn't make sense to me. They were doing okay. Why make a problem for them. You'd think this could have been negotiated fairly for everyone concerned. But this small business had tried for 6 months without any luck and last Tuesday they closed their doors and moved out their furniture and equipment. Their dream of owning their own business was over.
They still had hope though. They still spoke about reopening their store in another complex. Honestly, I believe they will. Not without a struggle though. While I feel terrible seeing the pain they try to cover up in their faces, I actually feel good about their prospects. I think they have what it takes to be successful and I don't see them giving up. It's just another business problem, extremely severe but manageable due to the courage I know they have. I've thought about it from time to time this week and I always feel bad. They were great in moving me to another location, a minor inconvenience for me. The new place even has some advantages. But I can't get it out of my mind how the media stories we all fear is a reality in the worst way for them. If sincere, hard working people can suffer like this family is, it can happen to anyone. A few unexpected circumstances is all it takes to turn your world upside down. It's easy to write about. It must be a horror to live through. I wish them good luck in whatever they do.
I hate to see empty stores. I hate to see a businessperson go out of business. I tried it once and it is an all encompassing endeavor. It takes a ton of desire, sacrifice, courage, money, intense planning, and enormous amounts of time. And it can be rewarding in a half dozen ways, but it's not easy. It takes a lot of work. It's all consuming, but success and the freedom and dignity it rewards the businessperson with are certainly worth it to many people.
What times we live in. What bravery it requires. What cooperation it demands. What wonderful things we will achieve when we overcome this. Things weren't right in our economy. It was smoke and mirrors playing tricks on our reality. Now we can look at it honestly, preserve what's good, and fix what's wrong with it. So here we go again, turning a catastrophe into some glorious miracle. And if you don't believe me, wait and see and call me in a few years. This world has been through some awful calamities and it always rebuilds itself as a better incarnation of itself. We'll get through this and what we find on the other side will be better than what we had. It always is. So like the old saying goes, "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."
