Tommy Mann

  I have some good news! I’m afraid that my previous letters may have come across with a touch of despair. I don’t mean to complain. Sometimes I just have to put my feelings on paper, but I realize they might not be the best letters for my family to read.   But not this week. I have been eager to put my pen to paper and express to you the good news we have received. Peace is within reach. I cannot speak for what the enemy will do, but I am at complete peace, as are the other soldiers in our unit. We know that we are doing what we are supposed to do, and we are at peace with our Commander.     The battle is still raging on, but it is different. Somehow we all know everything will turn out alright. The enemy is still trying his same old tricks, but they have not been as effective as of late. His fiery arrows are extinguished as soon as we raise our shields.    Individually our shields provide defense, but when we all band together in formation our shield...

“Help Wanted” “Apply Today” “We’re Hiring!” We see these signs everywhere. If you are looking for a job, this is a great market. Unfortunately, the market does not feel great for those who are trying to fill these vacancies, and for the patrons who are feeling the effects of the labor shortage. The service industry in particular has been hit hard; your favorite fast food restaurant may or may not be open, depending on whether or not enough people show up to work that day. When they are open, service is slow at many places. It is taking an unusual amount of time to get things because the labor shortage has impacted the shipping industry. In May our church ordered a new appliance, and we were told it would arrive in June—of next year, thirteen months away! It is taking an unusual amount of time to get places because the labor shortage has impacted the airline industry. Flights are being cancelled at the last minute because pilots are in short supply. This labor shortage is frustrating, a...