Work is broken. I get it.
And yes, No one's work is perfect .... at least every day.
However, unless we've long given up, we still desire to do work that matters, whether we're nine or ninety. Man or Woman. Republican or Democrat. We want to do good things that create good things.
Spiritually, we long for work that "gets us back to the garden." In other words, we hunger for the kind of work we see depicted in Genesis 1 and 2, where man worked WITH God to create and care for a world getting better and better each day. Progress. Purpose. Productivity. Fulfillment.
Or as Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." God manifested on earth through people doing HIS work through their work.
Is this asking for too much to want more of heaven on earth? Or are we being naive and just need to settle for a raise and earlier retirement? Is there a redemption to work that for so many feels more like drudgery or just disappointing?
I think "yes!" But, this move to work we long for requires us to intentionally connect five key ingredients AND help others do the same.
1. Meaning: We discover how our work connects to a bigger purpose and plan .... something beyond us and beyond our paycheck. Best case, we get to work in this cause with others who appreciate what we do and support us in this work.
2. Motivation: We get energized by doing what we do and want to do more of it. We certainly feel this when we see how what we do is making a difference. And we see progress and feel affirmed by what we do.
3. Money: Our work is valued and we are able to support ourselves and our families to be able to do more of it. Beyond that we get to be generous because of it. We may work have to trade making less money to have #1 and #2, but we long to pay our bills by doing what we're great at.
4. Mastery: We want to become better and better at what we do and feel a sense of what God felt when He "saw all that He made and it was very good." (Genesis 1:31) We want to hear the words, "Well done," at least from someone and ultimately God Himself.
5. Market: In order for #'s 1-4 to happen, we need others to need what we do and have a way to find it, see it's value and pay for it. This involves communication that connects real needs with what we really have to offer. (Marketing can really be doing God's work too!... just not cheesy marketing, right?)
Sadly, far too many people don't have one or even one of these five longings met through their work-life. And sadly, most church and spiritual leaders don't see this as being a spiritual vision or an endeavor for the Church to be directly involved in. I disagree.
Most educational organizations have failed on this front as well... thinking that the typical guidance counselor or college "career service" is doing the job. From all I've seen and experienced, unless the school sees this as a core part of what they do, it really doesn't happen.
In order to create the world God desires and a world of REAL progress, we must intentionally find our fit in all five and help others find and engage their's as well. Youth. 20-somethings Middle-agers. Older people. (especially those retiring from things that didn't fit all 5).
Yes, I'm a dreamer.... But I am a dreamer who is acting on the dream. I will never quit, (unless God convinces me to focus on something else.)
No, this work won't replace the need for God to fill all the desires in our lives. However, we will get to live into our real story and be on the adventure we were born for.
This dream starts with just a few people who go for all 5 (even if it takes them some time) and refuse to settle for anything less. THEN help others do the same.
Does this encourage you? Inspire you? Discourage you? Challenge you? Please share your thoughts below, OK
Work is broken. I get it.
And yes, No one's work is perfect .... at least every day.
However, unless we've long given up, we still desire to do work that matters, whether we're nine or ninety. Man or Woman. Republican or Democrat. We want to do good things that create good things.
Spiritually, we long for work that "gets us back to the garden." In other words, we hunger for the kind of work we see depicted in Genesis 1 and 2, where man worked WITH God to create and care for a world getting better and better each day. Progress. Purpose. Productivity. Fulfillment.
Or as Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." God manifested on earth through people doing HIS work through their work.
Is this asking for too much to want more of heaven on earth? Or are we being naive and just need to settle for a raise and earlier retirement? Is there a redemption to work that for so many feels more like drudgery or just disappointing?
I think "yes!" But, this move to work we long for requires us to intentionally connect five key ingredients AND help others do the same.
1. Meaning: We discover how our work connects to a bigger purpose and plan .... something beyond us and beyond our paycheck. Best case, we get to work in this cause with others who appreciate what we do and support us in this work.
2. Motivation: We get energized by doing what we do and want to do more of it. We certainly feel this when we see how what we do is making a difference. And we see progress and feel affirmed by what we do.
3. Money: Our work is valued and we are able to support ourselves and our families to be able to do more of it. Beyond that we get to be generous because of it. We may work have to trade making less money to have #1 and #2, but we long to pay our bills by doing what we're great at.
4. Mastery: We want to become better and better at what we do and feel a sense of what God felt when He "saw all that He made and it was very good." (Genesis 1:31) We want to hear the words, "Well done," at least from someone and ultimately God Himself.
5. Market: In order for #'s 1-4 to happen, we need others to need what we do and have a way to find it, see it's value and pay for it. This involves communication that connects real needs with what we really have to offer. (Marketing can really be doing God's work too!... just not cheesy marketing, right?)
Sadly, far too many people don't have one or even one of these five longings met through their work-life. And sadly, most church and spiritual leaders don't see this as being a spiritual vision or an endeavor for the Church to be directly involved in. I disagree.
Most educational organizations have failed on this front as well... thinking that the typical guidance counselor or college "career service" is doing the job. From all I've seen and experienced, unless the school sees this as a core part of what they do, it really doesn't happen.
In order to create the world God desires and a world of REAL progress, we must intentionally find our fit in all five and help others find and engage their's as well. Youth. 20-somethings Middle-agers. Older people. (especially those retiring from things that didn't fit all 5).
Yes, I'm a dreamer.... But I am a dreamer who is acting on the dream. I will never quit, (unless God convinces me to focus on something else.)
No, this work won't replace the need for God to fill all the desires in our lives. However, we will get to live into our real story and be on the adventure we were born for.
This dream starts with just a few people who go for all 5 (even if it takes them some time) and refuse to settle for anything less. THEN help others do the same.
Does this encourage you? Inspire you? Discourage you? Challenge you? Please share your thoughts below, OK?
