Let’s talk about how we can have Jesus join us in a place where
we spend a large portion of our waking hours
Let’s talk about how we can have Jesus join us in a place where we spend a large portion of our waking hours. No, I’m not talking about in front of the TV. I’m talking about the other place people spend a lot of time: the workplace.
Our job has a tremendous impact on our lives. When things are going bad at work, things usually aren’t so great at home either. And as the pace and pressure of life increases, the workplace gets more and more polarized. Perhaps that’s why the comic strip, “Dilbert,” which contrasts the perspective of workers with those of management, is so popular.
Consider the following examples of how wide the gap is between workers and management. The first example offers five ideas for inspirational posters you may one day see on the walls of your workplace:
Inspirational poster #1 (with suitable Dickensonian picture): The beatings will continue until morale improves.
Inspirational poster #2 (on a completely black background): The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off due to budget cuts.
Inspirational poster #3 (with the words superimposed over a picture of a lion licking his chops after a satisfying meal): Rome didn’t create a great empire by having meetings. They did it by killing all who opposed them.
Inspirational poster #4 (with the words superimposed over an 8×10 glossy of Mr. Jack I. Box): Your job is still better than asking, “Do you want fries with that?”
Inspirational poster #5 (with the words superimposed over a group picture of your management team): Pride… Commitment… Teamwork… Words we use to get you to work for free.
The second example of how wide the gap is between workers and management is illustrated by translating commonly used terms found in recruitment literature and job ads, so if you are looking for a new job, these may prove helpful:
Term: “join our fast-paced company.” Translation: “We have no time to train you.”
Term: “casual work atmosphere.” Translation: “We don’t pay enough to expect that you will dress up.”
Term: “must be deadline oriented.” Translation: You will be six months behind schedule on your first day.”
Term: “wide variety of experience necessary.” Translation: “You will need it to replace three people who just left.”
Term: “duties will vary.” Translation: “Anyone in the office can boss you around.”
Term: “must have an eye for detail.” Translation: “We have no quality control.”
Term: “must be career-minded.” Translation: “female applicants must be childless (and remain that way).”
Term: “problem-solving skills a must.” Translation: “You are walking into a company in perpetual chaos.”
Term: “requires team leadership skills.” Translation: “You will have the responsibilities of a manager, but without the pay.”
Term: “good communication skills necessary.” Translation: Management communicates, you listen, then figure out what they want and do it.
These thoughts, while humorous, also ask a bigger question: if the workplace is such an antagonistic environment, how should we act there? Unfortunately, many of us have chosen to live by a double-standard: we act one way when we are at work and another way when we are off. Our thinking is that since it’s a dog-eat-dog world, we are not interested in playing the part of the Alpo, so we play the game; we put on our dogface and join the other carnivores.
But God wants us to rethink that notion. Next week we will see that God wants our workplace to be one of the primary places we serve him and grow spiritually.
