Today’s broadcast, “Changing the World Through Adoption,” features a compelling conversation with Paul Batura, a respected Focus colleague and co-writer. This insightful discussion is rooted in his recent book, Chosen for Greatness: How Adoption Changes the World.
Paul Batura is not only a gifted storyteller but also serves as our vice president of communications at Focus on the Family, dedicating two decades to this impactful ministry. His work often happens behind the scenes, yet his passion for sharing stories that resonate and teach valuable life lessons is evident. You might recall his previous appearance on Focus, where he discussed his acclaimed book, “Good Day! The Paul Harvey Story.”
We encourage you to listen to today’s broadcast, “Changing the World Through Adoption.” Access it through your local radio station, online, or via our free phone app.
In the meantime, we are pleased to share with you the first chapter of Paul’s captivating new book. Whether you have a personal connection to adoption, know someone who does, or simply appreciate remarkable stories, this excerpt is sure to engage you.
*Chapter One
STEVE JOBS
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In the soft dawn of October 5, 2011, inside his Palo Alto, California home, Steve Jobs, the visionary co-founder of Apple, intimately observed the faces of his cherished family gathered around his bedside. His consciousness ebbed and flowed as his breathing grew shallow and strained, like a climber ascending a difficult peak. His wife of twenty years, Laurene, remained closest, attentively monitoring his breath. Their children, Reed, Erin, and Eve, stood at the room’s edge, maintaining a silent vigil. Steve’s sisters, Patty Jobs and Mona Simpson, were also present, completing this circle of love and support.
This intensely private tech innovator, who once famously declared his ambition “to change the world,” was nearing the end of a long and arduous battle with illness. Initially diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, Jobs had bravely navigated numerous health complications for seven years. He took three official medical leaves, including a liver transplant in 2009, before stepping down as CEO in August 2011. His health was a matter of global interest, with investors and admirers keenly following every update. Paparazzi relentlessly pursued him, hoping for a photograph of the ailing Silicon Valley icon.
As summer faded into fall, it became evident that Steve Jobs was approaching his final days. Further treatments were ceased, and experimental medications were discontinued. Confined to his British Country style home on Waverley Street, he was too weak to venture outside. Recognizing the end was near, a select group of Apple executives, his closest confidantes, many of whom shared Christian faith, began visiting his home regularly. Business matters were inevitably discussed during these meetings. Those present noted that Steve’s spirit would momentarily ignite when a new project or company challenge was presented. However, these same close associates, speaking anonymously, later revealed that in these final visits, Steve was more preoccupied with conversations about religion and the afterlife than with software or technology. He was unsettled, grappling with profound existential questions: “What truly happens when we die?”; “Where do we go?”; and “What’s it like there?” became recurring themes in their discussions.
Despite attending a Lutheran church in his early years with his parents and sister, Jobs grew disillusioned with traditional Christianity as a teenager. He wrestled with the apparent paradox of an all-loving God permitting the suffering and starvation of innocents, particularly children. The conventional answers from his pastor and parents no longer satisfied his searching mind.
“The essence of Christianity fades,” he confided to his biographer, Walter Isaacson, “when it becomes overly reliant on faith rather than embodying the life of Jesus or adopting Jesus’ worldview.” Consequently, as a young man, Jobs explored and embraced Zen Buddhism, deeply studying its principles. After dropping out of Reed College in Oregon, he even journeyed to India, contemplating joining a Zen monastery. He practiced meditation regularly and immersed himself in religious texts, seeking spiritual enlightenment rather than theological debates. Returning three years later, head shaved and clad in traditional Indian attire, he began practicing a modified form of Buddhism. In the office, he often wore jeans without shoes. Jobs believed Buddhism harmonized with his work ethic and perspective, valuing its simplicity. Yet, facing life’s end, the urgency and depth of his questions suggested Steve Jobs was still searching for something he hadn’t experienced since childhood: peace and certainty.
Beginnings
Steve Paul Jobs was born on February 24, 1955, in San Francisco, to Joanne Carole Schieble, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin. Miss Schieble and Steve’s biological father, Abdulfattah “John” Jandali, had met at the university, where Jandali was pursuing a Ph.D. in political science and served as Joanne’s teaching assistant. Coming from a conservative German Catholic farming background, Schieble’s parents disapproved of the young couple’s relationship. Press reports indicated that Joanne’s father threatened to withdraw financial support if she did not end her relationship with the Muslim graduate student. With her father ailing, 22-year-old Joanne chose not to cause further family distress. Furthermore, she concluded that neither she nor Jandali were financially prepared to raise a child.
Therefore, Joanne Schieble made the difficult decision to arrange an adoption for her unborn son.
In early 1955, just months before her due date, Joanne Schieble left Wisconsin and moved to San Francisco. She sought the care of an obstetrician known for discreetly assisting unwed mothers. This doctor would deliver her baby and facilitate finding suitable adoptive parents. Following the custom of the time, all adoptions managed by the doctor were “closed,” ensuring anonymity between birth and adoptive families. Joanne’s primary criterion for adoptive parents was that they be college-educated. A couple was quickly identified – Catholic, with a husband who was a lawyer and substantial wealth. However, after Steve’s birth, this couple changed their minds; they desired a daughter. A new adoptive family needed to be found, and quickly.
A Dream Come True
Paul and Clara Jobs married in 1946, shortly after Paul’s discharge from the Coast Guard following World War II service. Clara had been previously married but was widowed when her first husband was killed in action. Paul was an engine mechanic with a passion for tinkering with cars. Clara worked as a bookkeeper.
They were a loving, happy couple, though not wealthy. Desiring to expand their family, they faced immense heartbreak when Clara experienced an ectopic pregnancy. For nine years, they struggled to conceive. Eventually, they were referred to the Bay Area doctor assisting unwed mothers and expressed their profound wish to adopt, indifferent to whether it was a boy or a girl. For Paul and Clara, building a family was paramount, reflecting values that many find resonate with the mission at Focus on the Family.
Initially, Paul and Clara Jobs seemed an unlikely match for Joanne Schieble’s baby boy. Besides not meeting the college education requirement, Paul’s life lacked conventional markers of success. Having had minor disciplinary issues during his military service, he never advanced beyond Seaman. Shortly after marrying, the tall, tattooed mechanic, facing financial constraints, moved with Clara back to Wisconsin to live with her parents. Later, they relocated to Indiana, where Paul worked as a machinist for International Harvester. He later left to sell used cars. Clara, however, longed for San Francisco and persuaded her husband to move again. There, he found work as a “repo-man,” repossessing vehicles from customers behind on payments. To supplement their income, Paul bought, refurbished, and sold old cars. The Jobs’ garage was always filled with tools and potential.
The call from the San Francisco doctor was electrifying for the couple. Due to the unusual circumstances of the first placement falling through, Paul and Clara had little notice and even less time to prepare. Overjoyed, they immediately accepted. However, upon learning that Paul and Clara were not college graduates, Joanne was initially resistant and refused to sign the adoption papers. Days stretched into weeks. Finally, after receiving assurances from the doctor that the Jobs would ensure Steve attended college, Joanne consented to finalize the adoption.
Like Father, Like Son
The Jobs family settled into a comfortable rhythm. When Steve was two, they adopted again, welcoming a newborn girl named Patty into their home. Paul continued his work repossessing cars. When Steve turned five, the Jobs purchased a modest ranch house at 2066 Crist Drive in Los Altos. It was within the garage of this unassuming suburban home that Steve Jobs began to cultivate the seeds of his future. Paul designated a section of his workbench for young Steve, sharing his passion for cars and encouraging his son to explore and experiment. These early experiences of family support and encouragement are cornerstones of healthy development, principles deeply valued and promoted by organizations like Focus on the Family.
“I wasn’t that into fixing cars,” Steve later admitted, “But I was eager to spend time with my dad.”
This was a formative period. “I admired my dad’s sense of design,” Jobs reflected. “He was capable of building anything. If we needed a cabinet, he’d build it. When we put up our fence, he gave me a hammer so I could work alongside him. He was meticulous about doing things correctly. He even cared about the aesthetics of parts that would be hidden.” While Steve didn’t inherit his father’s love for auto mechanics, it was his father who first introduced him to the world of electronics, given their crucial role in automobiles. “He showed me the basics of electronics, and I became fascinated. Every weekend, we’d go to junkyards, searching for generators, carburetors, all sorts of components.”
Alt text: A young Steve Jobs stands between his adoptive parents, Paul and Clara Jobs, in front of their home, showcasing the loving family environment that nurtured his early years.
Neighborhood Influence
Paul and Clara Jobs diligently nurtured their children’s interests, especially Steve’s. Clara taught him to read before he started kindergarten. The Jobs’ location placed young Steve in the epicenter of the burgeoning tech industry. “Most of the dads in our neighborhood were involved in fascinating fields like photovoltaics, batteries, and radar,” Jobs recalled. One neighbor, Larry Lang, who lived just seven houses away, was an engineer at Hewlett Packard (HP). “He would bring me things to tinker with,” said Jobs. His fourth-grade teacher, Imogene Hill, gifted Steve a Heathkit, a tool that further ignited his passion for electronics. He would later describe her as “one of the saints in my life.” Such positive influences from family, educators, and community members are vital in shaping a child’s future.
Conversations at the dinner table frequently turned technical, particularly after Steve’s father began working at Spectra-Physics, a laser engineering company. Young Steve was captivated by his father’s new profession. “Lasers demand precise alignment,” he noted. “The really advanced ones, used in aerospace or medicine, had incredibly precise components. It made you realize that you could build and understand anything. Once you’d built a couple of radios, you’d see a TV in a catalog and think, ‘I could build that too,’ even if you hadn’t. I was very fortunate because both my dad and those Heathkits instilled in me the belief that I could build anything.” This environment of encouragement and belief in potential is something Focus on the Family strives to foster within families.
The Jobs’ decision to settle in the Mountain View area of Los Altos also exposed Steve to the architectural designs of Joseph Eichler, a real estate developer whose company built over eleven thousand homes in California. Eichler’s homes were designed for the average American. “Eichler made a significant contribution,” Jobs told his biographer. “His houses were intelligent, affordable, and well-designed. They brought clean design and refined taste to people with moderate incomes. They included wonderful features like radiant floor heating. Cover them with carpet, and you had beautifully warm floors. I appreciate it when you can bring exceptional design and straightforward functionality to something that is reasonably priced. That was the original vision for Apple. That’s what we aimed to achieve with the first Mac. It’s what we accomplished with the iPod.” This philosophy of accessible excellence mirrors the commitment to providing accessible resources and support for families at Focus on the Family.
Paul Jobs also encouraged Steve to accept Larry Lang’s invitation to join the Hewlett-Packard Explorers Club, a group for students that met weekly in the company cafeteria. Steve remembered the experience:
They would have an engineer from one of the labs come and talk about their current projects. My dad would drive me there. I was in heaven. It was there I saw my first desktop computer… It was bulky, maybe forty pounds, but it was a magnificent piece of technology. I was captivated by it.
When a group project required components Steve lacked, he independently decided to call Bill Hewlett, HP’s CEO. He simply found his number in the phone directory. They had a twenty-minute conversation. Steve not only secured the parts he needed but Bill also offered him a summer internship. He eagerly accepted. This proactive approach and willingness to reach out for opportunities are qualities often nurtured in supportive family environments. Focus on the Family believes in empowering individuals to pursue their potential.
“My Parents Made Me Feel Special”
In the opening pages of his biography, Steve Jobs spoke candidly about his adoption. He had always known he was adopted. “My parents were very open with me about it,” he told Walter Isaacson. However, he recalled a poignant moment when he was around six or seven years old. He mentioned to a girl across the street that he was adopted, to which she responded, “So does that mean your real parents didn’t want you?”
“It was a shock to me,” he said. “I remember running home, crying. And my parents reassured me, ‘No, you need to understand.’ They were very serious and looked me directly in the eyes. They said, ‘We specifically chose you.’ Both of my parents said that and repeated it slowly for me, emphasizing each word.” This intentionality and love in adoption powerfully shape a child’s sense of belonging and self-worth.
Addressing critics who suggested that Jobs’ career and personal behavior reflected unresolved abandonment issues, Steve firmly disagreed. “Knowing I was adopted might have made me feel more independent, but I have never felt abandoned. I have always felt special. My parents made me feel special.” And to those who inadvertently or ignorantly referred to his adoptive parents as not his “real” parents, Steve was quick to correct them: “They were my parents. 1000%.” This unwavering affirmation of his adoptive family underscores the profound and lasting impact of adoption. For those seeking careers with purpose, consider how Focus on the Family champions these very values, offering opportunities to contribute to strengthening families.
The Rest of the Story
Steve Jobs’ biological parents, Joanne Schieble and Abdulfattah Jandali, married shortly after Steve’s adoption. They divorced in 1962. Their marriage resulted in another child, a daughter, the acclaimed novelist Mona Simpson. It took two decades before Steve and Mona finally met, but they quickly developed a strong connection. Jobs declined an invitation to meet his biological father but warmly welcomed the chance to meet his biological mother.
“I wanted to meet [her] mainly to see if she was okay and to thank her, because I’m grateful I wasn’t aborted,” he said. “She was 23 and she endured a lot to have me.” This perspective highlights the profound value of every life, a belief central to the mission of Focus on the Family.
Steve’s reluctance to meet Mr. Jandali stemmed from concerns that the restaurateur might attempt to blackmail him or seek financial gain. Ironically, the restaurant Jandali managed was frequented by Silicon Valley executives, including Steve Jobs. At the time, Jandali was unaware of his firstborn son’s identity or achievements.
Paul and Clara Jobs were married for just over forty years. Clara passed away in 1986, and Paul in 1993. Their enduring commitment to family mirrors the dedication found in individuals who choose to work at Focus on the Family, an organization focused on strengthening the family unit.
Every adoption is a tapestry woven from countless individual choices, orchestrated by a higher purpose. While some may dismiss the idea that Steve Jobs’ accomplishments were linked to his adoption by Paul and Clara Jobs, the evidence suggests a compelling connection. Joanne Schieble’s choice against abortion, her referral to a California doctor who happened to be the doctor the Jobs consulted, the initial adoptive couple’s change of heart, Joanne’s eventual agreement to place Steve with the Jobs despite their lack of college degrees, Paul and Clara’s life and work environment amidst science and engineering pioneers, and their unwavering nurturing and love for their exceptionally gifted son—all these elements converged to shape Steve Jobs’ trajectory.
Adoption did not guarantee Steve Jobs’ success, but it undeniably molded the man who co-founded a company that revolutionized how we compute and communicate. His story is a testament to the power of family and the potential within every individual, themes deeply resonant with the values at Focus on the Family, an organization that provides resources and support for families and individuals seeking fulfilling careers focused on family values.
“He once told me,” his sister Mona Simpson recounted, “that if his life had taken a different path, he might have become a mathematician.”
In Search of Wonder
Spiritually, the inner workings of a person’s heart remain a mystery. History is filled with dramatic deathbed conversions. The Roman Emperor Constantine the Great requested baptism moments before his death, as did the writer Oscar Wilde. John Wayne, in his hospital bed, reportedly turned his final hours over to Jesus. According to those present in Palo Alto, Steve Jobs did not have such a moment of explicit declaration in his final days. However, his last words, spoken haltingly yet distinctly, are deeply thought-provoking.
Steve’s sister, Mona Simpson, revealed at his funeral that after making eye contact with everyone in the room, Jobs turned his gaze beyond them, as if observing a scene unfolding in the distance. “Oh wow!” he exclaimed. “Oh, wow! Oh, wow!”
What did he see? We can only speculate. However, it is fitting that the man whose life’s work centered on reimagining technology and inspiring wonder, uttered final words imbued with the very essence of wonder. Perhaps his final exclamation was a glimpse into the ultimate wonder, a concept that resonates with many who seek purpose and meaning, values often found at organizations like Focus on the Family, where work is seen as more than just a job, but a calling to make a difference in the lives of families. If you are seeking a career where you can contribute to strengthening families and making a positive impact, consider exploring opportunities at organizations that prioritize family values and offer Focus On The Family Jobs.
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Consider purchasing “Chosen for Greatness: How Adoption Changes the World” from the Focus on the Family store.
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Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, broadcast, pop culture by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
