I wrote a blog a couple of years ago entitled, “Stones of Remembrance.”  The biblical context for this phrase is found in Joshua 4, where God commanded Joshua to set up stones of remembrance as reminders or monuments to His faithfulness and care.  Whenever I need a word of encouragement from the Lord, I look back on those moments in my life when He visited me, or encouraged me, or provided for me in a special way.  

This is one of those stones.  

I had just graduated from Bethany Bible College in Scotts Valley, California.  It was July, 1977.  I was married to Cathy. I had no job.  I had no prospects. Way to go, Mike.  

I tried desperately to find employment in some Christian ministry in the Los Angeles area (World Vision, David C Cook, among others).  No one was hiring.  Okay, Lord, what do I do now with my Bible degree?  Cathy and I need food, rent money, and clothing.  He led me into the animation industry, which is another stone of remembrance that I will share at a later time.  

My first job in the animation biz was in the Hanna-Barbera Ink & Paint department.  In the Old School days the Ink & Paint department was where cel-vinyl paint was applied to the back of celluloid sheets (“cels”), painting (“floating”) within xeroxed or hand-inked lines.

The job lasted three months, and then I was hired by Filmation Studios (Fat Albert, Mighty Mouse) as an assistant animator.  I was thrilled.  This job lasted until early December, when most of the artists in the industry were normally laid off for the winter until the networks decided on what shows they wanted to pick up for the Spring season.  

Now what?  

Cathy and I were living in an apartment on Burbank Blvd, and we were wondering how we were going to make ends meet over the Christmas season.  We prayed.  

I got my portfolio together––which now included five show concepts that I had written and drawn while working in the Ink & Paint department, with inked and painted character designs on cels for each show––and I hit the streets.  No one was hiring.  The industry was hibernating until Spring.  Even so, I dutifully and prayerfully went to various studios (mostly boutique commercial studios) applying for a job.  Any job.  

No soap.

Then as I was driving along Cahuenga Blvd and nearing the old Hanna-Barbera studio, I felt a prompting to turn into the parking lot.  As I pulled into the lot I noticed that it was nearly empty.  Not a good sign.  Undaunted, I went into the studio and went up to the receptionist’s desk. 

Sidebar.  For those who don’t know, Hanna-Barbera (founded by Joe Barbera and Bill Hanna) is the studio where Huckleberry Hound, the Flintstones, Yogi Bear, Jetsons, Scooby Do, and so many other animation hits were produced during the 1950s, 60s and 70s.  H&B, as it was called, was the Mecca for primetime television cartoon shows.

Back to the studio. I asked the receptionist if there was someone in the building to whom I could show my portfolio.  She smiled at me and said, “Let me see if Bill Hanna is available.”  Just like that.  I thought I’d misunderstood her.  She picked up her phone and dialed a number, and before I could grasp what was happening, I was being ushered into the office of one of my television heroes.

There was Bill Hanna sitting with his feet up on his desk (I’m not kidding).  The man who had created many of my favorite TV shows.  I was standing on holy ground.  Bill stood and greeted me warmly, then he asked to see what I had in my portfolio.  For the next hour and a half I described each show in detail.  Bill was impressed enough to call in several department heads to see my stuff.  He concluded the impromptu meeting with, “Is there anything we can give Mike to tide him over the layoff?”  

One man raised his hand.  Iraj Paran, head of the special projects department (coloring books, print ads, etc).  Iraj asked me to draw a 32 page coloring book, based on the studio’s CB Bears and Loud Mouse characters, which were then airing on Saturday mornings.  The job took me a couple months, and paid enough money to tide Cathy and I over the winter slump, until I was once again hired full time.  By the way, I still have that coloring book, a stone of remembrance to God’s special providence. 

I write this story because it continually reminds me of how good our God is.  He takes care of His children and leads them through thick and thin, working all things together for good in His perfect plan for our lives.  I’m sure that every child of God reading this blog has a pile of stones by now that commemorate God’s faithfulness during difficult and not so difficult times, memories to pass on to children and grandchildren.

Onward and Upward!