Issue 321
What do you go to work for? Each day what is it that you are doing? Right now as you read this piece why are you doing your work?
The answers, of course, will be multilayered. Many of you work because it is a necessary and the bottom line is that you need the money. Time pressures or simply getting jobs done during the day preclude giving a great deal of thought or attention to deeper meanings or higher causes. Resentment may creep into your responses to such questions, since you view them as dealing with the luxury of lofty thoughts, while you’re just trying to make it through the day.
However, you also know that work is not just about dealing with the basics – you’re up to something else when you’re up to your eyes in work.
I’m suggesting that every day you are also attempting to solve a puzzle: how can I find a way of working and loving which keeps me sane, healthy, growing and developing? We are now on part seven of our series looking at this puzzle. To find some profound, practical and daily solutions I suggest we visit someone else’s somewhat unusual workplace.
Nothing is what it seems on this desolate hill; a young man is struggling to catch his breath, acting out the final scenes in a fatal drama. As darkness descends, the genre appears to forming into a tragedy. But this is no ordinary moment – the young man is busy designing and crafting the final touches to his life’s work with consummate skill and supreme effort. He is carrying out the tasks that will define his destiny and fulfil his life’s purpose.
The words carried on the wind now reach the ears of the spectators and, if you’re prepared to listen, there is learning to be had that may transform your life forever. He is giving a gift, a labour of love, made out of actions, words and mysteries – an open source code, not too difficult to decipher, if only you realise that nothing is what it seems on this desolate hill. This hill is the place of crucifixion; it is where the greatest piece of work and the highest act of love meet and release the ultimate solution to Erickson’s, Freud’s and everyone else’s love-work puzzle.
The greatest challenge for you will be to see through clear lenses what is actually happening – so complex and intricate, yet utterly relevant to what you are doing right now.
The whole of WORKTALK is built around learning from the Cross lessons for work- and there are hundreds of them. To find them you can search the WORKTALKweekly archive and use our other resources such as the course and the new book, but here is one thought for what you are doing right now:
The work of the cross is a work of sacrificial love; it cost Jesus of Nazareth to do it. Although work is meant to be fulfilling, meaningful, rewarding and releasing there is a central element to success: achievement costs; it is expensive to become what you need to be. There is no short cut; no one achieves anything without sacrifice. Jesus could have escaped arrest but chose the path to sacrifice. That decision rescued you, your work and your future; it’s one of the harder parts of solving the puzzle.
Choose well.
John 17:4 & 15:13
4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
In preparation for the next GEOFFSHATTOCKweekly, do feel free to email us your thoughts to wtw@worktalk.gs or leave a comment on our Facebook or Twitter profile. You can also visit our YouTube channel - get inspired and share Worktalk's vision with others.
Work well
Geoff Shattock
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