Issue 094
Maybe one day, while you were at work, news came through of the death of someone that you knew. It’s not uncommon for someone to receive such news at work, simply because we do spend so much time there. Sometimes it’s a family member; sometimes a colleague. The death can be expected, as a result of an illness, or sudden, perhaps the result of an accident or incident. Whatever the reason it can result in shock and grief, or maybe a passive sadness amongst those left behind depending on how well they knew the person who died.
Let me tell you something about stress management training. A technique sometimes used is to invite people to think about the worst possible thing that could happen in a situation and then think about how they would deal with it. In this way we go in our minds to the imaginary worst place and come back equipped to deal with the real place. But suppose the worst thing that could happen is death, how do we face this and how do we help others at work to face it?
What I’m suggesting here is that you and I need to recognise now that a big change (death) is going to happen to all of us. The time to face it is now. The reason we need to face it now is that we have no idea when we will really face it, nor do any of those that we work with. James, Jesus’ brother, specifically warned of the danger of doing business without recognising our mortality. We spend hours planning for growth, change, projects or reaching targets at work. We spend money preparing for all kinds of contingencies, but what about planning for death – how can I face up to the life beyond this life?
Some say there is no afterlife. Some say that we can’t know. Others say that no one has come back and some say that we will all come back time and time again. Jesus Christ said, “If you believe in me, even though you die, you will live again.” It’s that spiritual dimension which needs to be brought into our places of work. I’m not talking about a narrow bigotry which despises other peoples opinions, but an attitude that wakes others up to the need to consider the end game whilst playing the first rounds. To do that we need to think big: we need to go above and beyond, we need to develop our sense of the eternal. You may think that I’m dodging the issue – I don’t think so. I am saying the way to help people face death is to help them prepare for it early on. The same Jesus Christ, who said we would live again, gave his life at work and because he did the work of death we can offer hope to others at work.
John 11:25-26
25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
James 4:13-15
13Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
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
© Copyright 2024 Geoff Shattock
All GEOFFSHATTOCKweekly archives are for personal use only. For permission to use for any other purposes please email using the address below thank you.
WORKTALK LEARNING
1 Washington Villas, Hythe Road, Marchwood, Southampton, Hampshire, SO40 4WT United Kingdom
T:+44 (0)23 8086 8543
http://www.geoffshattock.com
comms@worktalk.gs
