Issue 322
Have you ever watched an expert at work? Whatever the area of expertise, when you watch such a person there is an exquisite artistry about what they do. So you can marvel at a man who can manipulate numbers at high speed using mental dexterity to achieve accurate results; some craftsmen create such pleasing bespoke results that just to look at the completed project, is satisfying; some surgeons seem to be able to produce surgical solutions to otherwise impossible problems and enable others to recover; a teacher can elevate a class to levels of understanding that her contemporaries can’t match using a mixture of motivational, social and educational skills.
It is a privilege to be in the presence of such an expert, especially if you are the beneficiary of their expertise, but even if you are not, there is pleasure in the watching.
Whilst there is no doubt that some people seem to be blessed with an abundance of skill in their field, I would like to suggest to you that part of God’s creative technique is to build a bit of expertise into each one of his creations. In other words I am suggesting that you have within you some form of expertise; it may or may not be spectacular, but it is yours. There is something you can do really, really well.
Hold those thoughts while we track back to the desolate hill where the Master of all craftsmen is carrying out his job of rescue with unique expertise; he is showing us how we too can handle our expertise. Simultaneously, he is doing two things during his six hours of climactic work: firstly, he is doing the job itself – rescuing humanity from itself and its self-destruction; second, he is letting us see something of how he is doing it and what skills he is using. Here is a profound insight for you to grasp when considering how to handle your expertise as well as learn from others.
As Jesus dies on the cross there are things he is doing that are unique to him and utterly mysterious to us; we have no way of understanding them and they go beyond our ability to grasp. The depths of his expertise are out of our depth and the size of his task is too big for our brains.
At the same time, however, he gives us a seven sentence commentary on his six hour journey. Starting with his words of forgiveness and finishing with his prayer of commitment, he opens up windows into his workshop for you to gain hundreds of lessons for your journey.
It is important to note that he didn’t have to do that; he could have turned inwards and concentrated on his own work using his expertise to achieve his main task, but he chose to let some transparency hallmark his working practices so you could learn, from the expert, lessons for your work.
So here is a dynamic for you to include in your work:.do it – as only you can, but also let someone else learn from you – it may be just one tiny lesson or it may be hundreds, but as you manage your mystery (that which is yours and others can’t understand) and you choose some transparency (that which you can let others see), you will pass onto someone something which will outlive you and perpetuate a blessing for the next generation. It’s another piece of the puzzle which will contribute to solving the challenge of love and work.
Matthew 5:14-16
14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven
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Work well
Geoff Shattock
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