My local church put on a celebration of work, as a Harvest Festival Event, they plied us with Fair Trade wine and home made humus, prior to a talk from, as it transpired, one of the key movers and shakers from the City of Bristol. I sat enchanted, as he talked about his faith motivating him in his work, and some of his hopes for the projects he’d been involved in shaping. I was wide eyed as he talked of a development near me that has bought a sense of pleasure to my regular trip to town, as to how Cabot Circus was supposed to be a place for people – and not purely a market place for big spenders.
He continued to drop the big names as he talked – “Jesus talked about business, in the Parable of the Talents”, he said, as though he’d just been chatting to him down the pub. “I had to do something, when I realised Bristol had allowed the gap between rich and poor to widen.” It would be easy to argue that there’s still a gap between rich and poor in Bristol, quite a big one. Yet as this guy talked about the projects he’d been involved in, I became aware he had impacted me, in my little world, working and studying in Bristol, Bristol is different because a few people got involved in development.
Following the business man, the Vicar promised us, he would introduce us to someone who’d share with us some tools fro transforming our work place, enabling us to bring our skills into our work places. We were then entertained by the lovely Chloe Goodchild, and I smiled as I tried to relate what she said to my own stress-loaded work place.
And yet on Mon morning, I noticed I was looking at work differently, I noticed things, I smiled.
The shocking thing about this, for me, is that my Christian roots are deeply imbedded in the understanding of transforming work – a concept I’d become subtly detached from. I recognised I’d been allowing myself to become a slave to church, to go to church meetings – for churches sake! And here was a service that felt as though it was their to bless me, and my Christian commitment to work and transform work.
I feel a need to review the balance, and re-think where I need to be in relation to church, I had indeed lost sight of my commitment to live before God where ever He put me. I don’t know how other people manage this work/church balance, or if anyone else has been faced with a challenge to review the time they give to church? Or how you see your work?, and if your involved in making church happen, how do you build church events in ways that might bless hard working people?
Don’t get me wrong, I have mixed feelings about my current job, I feel silence by the way the bullies trample on younger staff, and have no idea how I can challenge this. I also feel called to develop other area’s of work, as well as my current day job.
It would be good to hear your work/faith experiences, and any tips for me in bringing the best I can bring to work. and lets keep praying about the work we’re called to do.
I remember a few years ago, we were doing a housegroup series on work based on a series of videos put together by Mark Green. I think it was called ‘Thank God It’s Monday” or something. The series involved interviewing Christians from various occupations about faith and their work. I actually remember very little, but I do remember that reference was made to Nimrod (who I had previously thought was just an RAF plane or one of Elgar’s Enigma Variations), but I learned he was a character in the Bible, Genesis Ch 10, to be exact. We know little about him except that he was a hunter:
8 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.”
What made me chuckle was that the participants of the video were made to say, “I am a mighty Car Mechanic before the Lord”, ” I am a mighty Systems Analyst before the Lord”, etc. We in our group just laughed as we followed suite. But I’ve remembered it. If I or Phil are, for whatever reason, dreading going into work we laugh and say, “GO, and be a mighty Motability Sales Rep before the LORD!” or “GO and be a mighty Resource Assistant before the LORD”, to which the appropriate response is to say with strength, feeling and just a bit of tongue in cheek, “I am a mighty Motability Sales Rep/Resource Assistant before the LORD!” We do it as a joke really…nevertheless, it does oddly seem to give us the boost to go and do what needs to be done. I think it is about reminding myself that there is a greater authority than my human bosses and that it is important to do the best I can to ease the progress God’s plan for that day.
I remember reading in a book (it may well have been the one to the series mentioned above), about one woman’s ‘camomile tea’ ministry. She worked in an office and offered to make tea for someone. The person said they’d like a camomile tea and the woman quietly went out and bought camomile tea. That was a small way in which she could bring her Christianity to play in her workplace. Of course, non-Christians are just as capable of these little acts of kindness but what was important in this case was the motivation behind it. In my last job, I took this to heart; I worked supporting a team of secondary school teachers. They worked very hard and often their meagre 15 minute coffee break was largely taken up sorting out issues with the kids. I figured the very least I could do was to make sure that there was a hot drink ready for them by the time the bell went. So the filter coffee was sorted for Ed and Kate, Earl Grey for Clare, tea for Neil and Kheya and instant coffee for everyone else. If they seemed tied up, I’d deliver it to them in their rooms. I know for a fact it was appreciated. What is most important is the fact that I was doing something which was not forced, but merely used the characteristics I already have, the ‘Carole-ness’ of Carole, to good effect. It wasn’t a huge thing but it had a good outcome. Don’t talk to me about Phil’s tea making in the workplace – he is now verging on obssessive!
I couldn’t climb the north face of the Eiger for charity – I’m too scared of heights and of hurting myself. But maybe when whatever we do is rooted in the essence of our own personality, even in our daily worklife, we are beginning to experience the life in abundance that Jesus promised us. Just a thought…
“I AM MIGHTY ———- BEFORE THE LORD!”
Substitute your own occupation in the gap and give it a try.
By: Carole on October 10, 2009
at 11:23 am
Eek! That’s a big one (as the actress said to the bishop). Sorry about that…
By: Carole on October 10, 2009
at 11:24 am
oh, cheers Carol, thought I’d alienated everyone with this post, so very much appreciate getting your comments
that’s a really good idea, the Camomile T ministry, think I could usefully begin something in my work place, you never know – it could cause a spin off benefit for me, I might find the atmosphere a little friendlier!
I also think part of it for me, is holding respect towards myself in my current job, just remembering to value my work in an environment where nothing is ever enough
am also very much aware, that for both me and my partner, our jobs are intensely demanding, and having to re-view my church commitments, just to look after-myself!
By: subo on October 10, 2009
at 12:38 pm
Thought provoking Su & Carole… I’m at the end (or beginning) of another week and have been intensely aware today of yet again trying to cram too much into my days. I value my time with Sanctuary, and with St Michaels, and I love my job – but yes, it does feel like a strain fitting it all in sometimes! And I don’t think that is what God intends for me. For me, I’m coming to the conclusion that for every activity, every engagement, I need to allow an amount of ‘processing time’ – this might be time when I refocus on being before God, and becoming still, or time spent discussing the day with a colleague or a friend, or just a relaxing soak in the bath. It’s hard to make this time, and always a temptation (which I frequently give in to) to rush onto the next thing. But when I stop for a while, I feel perspective restored, I am more able to reconnect with myself and with God, and therefore more use to those around me! So in my head it’s becoming less about what I should cut out, or prioritise, and more about pacing myself, and leaving some gaps between things.
The service you went to sounds amazing Su, isn’t it great when church exceeds your expectations?!!!? Carole I love your little job mantra, I shall be using that one. I am a mighty kitchen manager before the Lord!!!! Hahaha
By: Clare on October 11, 2009
at 7:47 pm
and speaking of jobs, how is your new one going Carole?
By: Clare on October 11, 2009
at 8:41 pm
So far, so good, Clare. Still really trying to establish myself. The people seem lovely and the kids seem fairly well-behaved. I had to hit the ground running last week but I am hoping that I, too, will have more time to process the experience…still, only two weeks to half term, ha!
By: Carole on October 11, 2009
at 11:26 pm
i so relate to what you say about the need for time to process things, and am aware of looking for opportunities to meet with people more.
to be honest i struggle to get beyond the need to sleep for three hours after work, and am partly thinking it’s useful to view work as an opportunity to engage with my calling, at what ever level, otherwise it becomes a yolk of servitude – if not a pit of slavery. i crave fun and freedom, and find if i think about what i can bring to my job, a little of that sense of adventure returns
so yep, it was great to go to something really welcoming and well organised, and to feel ministered to by someone in a vicar role
i have to say i really envy you Clare, ‘a little time spent discussing the day with a colleague or a friend’, i’m painfully aware at the moment, that not having joined a church in brissol, has meant i don’t really get that talking through time, and am just not really sure how to cope without it. – sometimes it’s like a physical pain, trying to work in a demanding context, and realise there’s no one at work to connect with (though the one time recently when i was seriously accused by one of the bullies, the one woman who has the ability to show a little care, came and found me in the staff room. curiously, in relation to Carol’s T ministry, i’ve seen a bible in this woman’s car)
i think work is going to become harder, more punitive, and with less financial reward, for many of us. so i really valued the way this service encouraged us to see God’s grace in our work. i’m also aware, however tough my job can be, for some british workers the daily regime of racism, oppression and exploitation is gross. i’ve worked alongside people being exploited like this – knowing for me it was only short term
and yet, apparently work is good for your mental health – if you believe the government
By: subo on October 12, 2009
at 10:34 pm
In a rare and privileged position where I feel that I am able to ’self actualise’ in my work to an extent that the boundary between ‘not work’ and ‘work’ has blurred.
A key aspect of this for me is to see ‘work’ as ‘worship’ – …doing it ‘as unto the Lord’ is an ideal that I aspire to and Brother Lawrence remains an inspiration in his ‘Practice of the Presence of God’ of which he said he wrote it while … “he was at work in his kitchen he possessed God in as great tranquillity as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament”
I also love Kahlil Gibran’s thoughts on work (The Prophet) – you can read lots of it at http://phys.lsu.edu/~gokhale/theprophet.html#Work but pasted the bit re work below if you have time to ponder…
Then a ploughman said, “Speak to us of Work.”
And he answered, saying:
You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.
For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life’s procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.
When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.
Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?
lways you have been told that work is a curse and labour a misfortune.
But I say to you that when you work you fulfil a part of earth’s furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born,
And in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life,
And to love life through labour is to be intimate with life’s inmost secret.
But if you in your pain call birth an affliction and the support of the flesh a curse written upon your brow, then I answer that naught but the sweat of your brow shall wash away that which is written.
You have been told also life is darkness, and in your weariness you echo what was said by the weary.
And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is urge,
And all urge is blind save when there is knowledge,
And all knowledge is vain save when there is work,
And all work is empty save when there is love;
And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God.
And what is it to work with love?
It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.
It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.
It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit.
It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit,
And to know that all the blessed dead are standing about you and watching.
Often have I heard you say, as if speaking in sleep, “he who works in marble, and finds the shape of his own soul in the stone, is a nobler than he who ploughs the soil.
And he who seizes the rainbow to lay it on a cloth in the likeness of man, is more than he who makes the sandals for our feet.”
But I say, not in sleep but in the over-wakefulness of noontide, that the wind speaks not more sweetly to the giant oaks than to the least of all the blades of grass;
And he alone is great who turns the voice of the wind into a song made sweeter by his own loving.
Work is love made visible.
And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.
For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man’s hunger.
And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distils a poison in the wine.
And if you sing though as angels, and love not the singing, you muffle man’s ears to the voices of the day and the voices of the night.
By: Dave on October 15, 2009
at 1:44 am
dave… that’s a staggering piece of writing. truly beautiful.
great post subo. really thoughtful responses.
i am a mighty music producer before the lord!.. no, no, strike that!.. i am a mighty animator before the lord!.. no, no, strike that!.. i am a mighty cartoonist before the lord!.. no no, strike that! i am a mighty designer/illustrator/artist… before… aaaaaaaagh! what am i?!!
i’ve always struggled to know what i am. i get quite confused and my passions get all mixed up.
with work i go through love and hate, dark and light. i want to live more by the wisdom of the man in the reading dave brought us, but do not know where to begin.
i think i’m gonna have to be a mighty jon birch before the lord, and see where that gets me.
btw… reading through this thread is like visiting an oasis of tranquility after recent asbo activity. thanks for the thoughtful post and responses.
By: jonbirch on October 15, 2009
at 3:13 pm
And to love life through labour is to be intimate with life’s inmost secret
It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit
cheers Dave, there’s so much richness in this, i do think there’s something about not muzzling the ox when you plough, and think i’ve sometimes felt so insecure at work, that i’ve fretted away like a headless chick. so am learing to try to find my own working pace. luckily for me there’s opportunity to engage with people and give a little something in my job
there’s so much in the Gibran stuff, it’s like a top wine, where the fragrance stays with you long after the bottles forgotton
here’s to understanding work, and making work valuable
your an inspiration Jon, and welcome to the tranquility of Gibran&Dave
i think it takes constant attention, to infuse spirituality into life, to remeber the grace bought in a cuppa, to engage with the earth in work, and to try to put on Christ with the suit&tie in workplaces that have forgotton how to build good relationships
By: subo on October 17, 2009
at 9:07 am
Cheers Sue – the discussion is reminding me of a good friend in NZ who was a baptist minister (6 foot 3, white, with dread locks to his waist!) who did an amazing work with people on the streets – he said that his job description in the first year was, “to be Simon and sniff out the purposes of God” – idealistic and radical – but it resonated with me! d
By: Dave on October 17, 2009
at 10:25 am
I think a ‘mighty Jon Birch” is a probably a pretty darn good thing to be…as is a mighty Subo/Clare Birch/Dave…or even Carole come to that. Let’s face it, nobody does a better job of being us than we do, flawless performances all.
I know this word has negative connotations, especially in Christian circles, but there is something about having a ‘pride’ in your work…giving the best that you can. Whether you are a waitress, a shop assistant or a CEO, it is evident to others when you do your job well and it can be deeply fulfilling to you (if only I could manage it all the time!). If we can direct that effort toward God, that is surely a rich form of praise.
Having been through a lot of job interviews of late, I was struck by the number of times I was asked competency based questions like, “Tell me about a time when you gave excellent customer service/when you implemented an idea which improved yours and your colleagues’ work situation/if you worked for us for 5 years, how would we know what difference you would have made/ What was your best achievement in your last position? I just go through life from day to day trying to be a positive influence in my environment, I don’t keep a record of my achievements so I found this line of questioning quite difficult. I began to wonder what I had actually done. But maybe it is a good idea to review our day from time to time – a bit like the, what’s it called…the examen in Ignatian spirituality? Dave will tell me… Good for the spirit and for job interviews!
BTW, Dave, can I employ you as a good reading consultant?
By: Carole on October 17, 2009
at 1:46 pm
you’re so right carole re. pride.
those are interesting lines of questioning and revealing that they are hard to answer. we really don’t spend much time assessing our strengths, do we? thanks for that, carole.
you do realise that dave also reads terry pratchett and has a terrible line in hippie t shirts… are you sure you want to employ him as a consultant?
actually, in fairness, it was dave who recommended to me ‘the wizard of earthsea’ by ursula le guin. still one of the best books i’ve read. he also recommended calvin miller’s ‘the song’ the singer’ and ‘the finale’, some great stuff there too. so i guess he might be trusted.
By: jonbirch on October 17, 2009
at 2:59 pm
that’s so handy Carol, along with the C.T. ministry, knowing your a great asset and reflecting on the opportunities to celebrate/give thanks for, are do able – even where i work
incidently, i’ve had to accept a wider margin of error than i’m comfotable with, or that i can’t get the perfect answer for everyone at the bat of an eye
though i think it’s good for me, learning to assert the law with hostile members of the public
By: subo on October 17, 2009
at 7:12 pm
yes yes yes Carol – for a small fee!!!
“the examen in Ignatian spirituality? Dave will tell me” – AMEN!! sister.
by the way did i mention that I have a book out in March 2010 – shameless plug!! “Stories from the Edge” (monarch) – you can get a cheaper copy (signed!!) from me! xx
By: Dave on October 19, 2009
at 11:37 pm
the book sounds great, you will let us have some more details Dave, how can we get hold of this?
also, would anyone like to write about the examen in Ignatian spirituality?, i had a really good version from Sacred Space web site, but realise this was a ‘trial’ page they put out, and can’t find it on their current web site
cheers
By: subo on October 20, 2009
at 11:05 am
Thanks Sue – details of the book in brief are…
Story is the main medium of the book. These stories are interspersed with reflective theological and theoretical questions and comments that seek to explore aspects of the narrative. Academics would call this ‘praxis’. The book is written in a way that is intended to bring the reader into the story; to enable exploration of experiences, thinking, values and world view. The book seeks to enable the reader to sharpen, refine and develop their own capacity to relate with love and understanding to those around them. It is written for those who are interested in people, who perhaps work alongside others (in any capacity), it may be of particular interest to children, youth and community workers of all types. It is written to affirm, encourage, inspire and perhaps challenge in terms of how we serve and are served by the human race, those we are commanded to love. However, it will also have a wider appeal and ibe of nterest to anyone who just likes a good yarn!”
Had lots of nice endorsements from the ‘great and good’!! Available from my brum office on 0121 687 3505 (next March – DV)
Now that really is a shameless plug!
great idea re ‘examen’… if no one gets to it I might have time in a month or so
dave
By: Dave on October 20, 2009
at 8:18 pm