....lead a quiet life

I've been on a journey to "raise my lid" for a long time. This road has led me to places like 

- My work matters to God

- In His Glory, God conceals matters. The glory of kings is to search matters out (Proverbs 25:2)

- Staying in the box. Digging deeper to discover the real me God made in His image 

- God intends me to experience a Sabbath rest. And not just on Sundays

- That God's intended doctrine of work includes a good practice of rest

.....and then this morning, journaling my thoughts as I read "The Accidental Pharisee" I come across this scripture - 

"and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you" (1 Thessalonians 4:11 NIV)

Now that leads me to slow down for a time of pause and reflection specifically about "purpose." There's even some thoughts of validation streaming in!

To that end...

"Leadership develops daily, not in a day" - John Maxwell

Ponderings on "Why Work?"

We might be well-served to remember the ancient Hebrew word "avodah;" the Old Testament translates it three different ways - to work, to worship and to serve.

- David W. Miller 

Why work?

In some form or fashion I assume everyone asks himself this question. While in high school (40+) years ago(!) I remember a teacher, Mr. Casper, asking the question "if you were wealthy and didn't have to work, would you?"

My answer was "absolutely!" Johnny Snead snickered and said "no way."

All these years later, I don't know what made Mr. Casper ask this question but I can only assume he wasn't just wanting to plant the subject into his students' thoughts, but was pondering the question himself. Johnny? Well, he was much closer to reality than me.

Why Work? is the title to a small book Dorothy Sayers (1893-1957) wrote in 1947. Some would say Ms. Sayers, crime writer, poet, playwright and Christian humanist, was "ahead of her time." Without debating that right now, I will give in and say her style and thoughts resonated with many during her lifetime and many theology of work writers (Doug Sherman, R. Paul Stevens, David Miller, Os Guinness, etc) since. Resonates with me too.

This is the first in at least 12 posts where I'll be pondering the subject and Ms. Sayers writings on that question....Why Work?

Why work? What's the purpose of work? Should one ever stop working? Where's the balance to working your tail off, but depending upon God?

Augustine reportedly said work like it depends upon you and pray like it depends upon God.

I say "huh?, really?, work like it depends upon me?" Is that right, or is it pray AND work like it depends on God.

To that end....let's see what Dorothy has to say about this subject of Why Work? and the path these ponderings take.

PS...thanks to the Britt Harris and The Austin Christian Business Summit for the copy of Dorothy Sayers' Why Work?

What Matters?

I spoke to a group of business peolple this week about.....well, my intent was to talk about how they view their work but I'm not sure that is what came across.

I asked the questions -

Why do you go to work? Do you see your work as part of your ministry?

How do people use their work as ministry? When you think about your purpose of work, and its impact on ministry, how does that play out?

As it pertains to ministry, studies tell us that most people feel they go to work to -

A. Earn money to give to the church or ministries,
B. Witness to co-workers, and/or
C. Have a Bible study
D. Provide for family and ourselves

That's all right on, but there is another very Biblical reason to work; the work itself.

This "the work itself" being part of big picture was met with some blank looks.

It's interesting that the "provide for our family and ourselves" is also met with uneasy eyes, but for now..my point being is....God made the heavens, light, the earth, creatures and mankind. Then He gave man and woman the command to work and that has never stopped. He created and we are to take that creation and do something with it.

The 1st record of God instilling the Holy Spirit into someone was Bezalel for the work on the temple.

What a calling God Gave Bezalel. What a calling He has given you and I! A Calling to work.

No matter what one's job. No matter what your career path. No matter if you are calling someone, mixing ingredients for a cake, compiling spreadsheets, in training to defend our country, giving speeches, studying for an exam, selling houses, heading up a Fortune 500 board, or sacking groceries...every part of of every job is doing something with God's creation and impactful to your calling.

He has commanded us. We're called to obey.

God and work matters. Your work has intrinsic value. Your work really really matters at levels most of us can't even fathom.

To that end, be purposeful, be mindful.

It's Ok to Talk About Your Work

This morning I'm reminded of a post I made on 1/12/2010. Reminded because as I look back over my shoulder at this weeks work I find more than a couple of people with struggles at work.

The post....When you're asked "how's it going?" And you talk about your work, and whether it's a struggle or not, that's ok to talk about your work.

We were made to work and it was probably not a struggle before the "fall" but it sure can be now. But that's ok that it's a struggle and it's ok to talk about it.

Be someone others can talk to about their struggles at work; don't try to fix them, just be someone they can talk to. Encourage them.

I have a friend who I called and found out he'd been really struggling the past few weeks with everything (work and otherwise) and he can't figure out what's wrong.

Since then we've prayed, spent time together and just check-in with each other. During a quick cup of coffee two weeks ago, I asked him if he'd ever read a certain book and I almost choked on his response.."Danny, I haven't read a book since I got out of high-school over 20 years ago."

Ha...I just locked up again remembering the next few minutes of our conversation followed by a trip together to B&N and him buying the first book in his life!

We talked this week and he's read that book, spent more time in B&N, and bought another one!

That call to him a few weeks ago was meant to be about work, I asked "how's it going?" and he started telling me about the struggles he was having. Now he's reading books.

It's a great day.