day 82: A Good Night's Sleep

When I was growing up I was told that "the best thing between hope and despair is a good night's sleep". I have hung on that statement many times in my work career, especially on those days and nights when I knew that there was a big problem tomorrow to be resolved, a contentious person to deal with, a major presentation to make, or a set of difficult decisions to be made. We far too many times overlook the need for sleep as a part of how productive or inefficient we will be at work. You can see it on people's faces as the week wears on and sleep deprivation takes over. I am sure that we all have had the same tough night before those next important days as I have; we toss and tumble, we stare at the ceiling, we fret and we worry. And before we know it the night has passed and we wake not as good or as ready for the day as we need to be. I have found myself many a time praying in the middle of the night to just ask God to give me peace to let me get the sleep I needed (at the time needed so desperately). What I find myself wanting at those times is to have a line of scripture that can be drawn upon to help me find peace and solace. We are told in Proverbs that if we have done our best at planning ahead and using our insight to think our best that we can rest assured that all will go well. Proverbs 3:24 goes on to say that if we have planned well and thought ahead with insight that, "You can lie down without fear and enjoy pleasant dreams". We need to listen to that message and draw upon it fully. When we have done the best that we know how and we are ready as best we will ever be, then we can put our head on the pillow and let God take over from there. He wants us to rest without fear and to dream positively. Are you going through a time where the pressures and the stresses are high and you are finding that sleepless nights are the norm instead of the exception? One night will turn to two and then they start to stack up on you? See if tonight you can draw upon God's promise and get the better night's sleep in preparation for the next day coming. He wants us to be the best we can be.

Reference: Proverbs 3:24 (New Living Testament)

day 81: Chairman of the Board

I was on the phone a few weeks ago with a friend and business leader who left the corporate world to start his own business. He has been very successful and has been strong in his faith and has built his company on faithful tenants and foundation. While I was on the phone with him he made a very astute statement when he said to me, "we have to all remember that we report to the ultimate Board (of Directors)". I have been reminded of this a few times since that phone call as I talk to others who struggle with their bosses and the lack of direction that they sometimes receive. We can't depend on the people around us to be consistent and faithful. People will never be such. Not because they don't want to be, but just because we all have our own responsibilities that we can't always be there for others. That is where God takes over. At work we don't always realize how much we depend on others to prop us up and support us. We don't always recognize and appreciate this until it is taken away or lost. Many are going through that loss right now as layoffs continue to grow daily. This should remind us to remember that God is the ultimate Chairman of the Board. He does not waiver in His support or direction. He is consistent in His approach and He is the ultimate balancer and distribution of work loads. We can be reassured of this in Hebrews 12:2, knowing that He is not only our Chairman but He is more importantly our champion. We are told, "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."

Reference: Hebrews 12:2 (New Living Testament)

day 80: Courageous Lions

The other night I was surfing the TV and there was the Wizard of Oz. It's almost impossible to not stop for at least a few minutes and watch. My favorite part of the movie is where the cowardly lion is coming to grips with his own lack of courage. In the movie he finds his courage with the medal that is given to him by the Wizard of Oz. I have known in my career a few cowardly lions at work. These were people who just wouldn't step forward with their point of view until someone else would validate them or give them license to speak or express themselves. There is no reason to not have courage and to not be confident in yourself and who you are. We are told this is in Psalm 31:24: "So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!" Unlike the cowardly lion, or those who feel as though they need validation, we already have our validation with the hope we put in our Lord. Like yesterday's setting of our priorities post, we have to start with ourselves inside first and then we can outwardly change. We are put in situations each and every day to express courage and to be strong in who we are and in our faith. Take heed today in the office that we can have true hope that allows us to have that unique and significant strength and courage so that we can be a courageous lion at work!

Reference: Psalm 31:24 (New Living Testament)

day 79: Prioritizing Our To-Do Lists

Have you ever been to a time management class where they teach you to make a to-do list and and then place an "A" next to the most important items, then a "B" next to the next set on the importance scale, then a "C" and a "D"? After you do all of those then you can note "A1", "A2"....."B1, B2"...and on and on and you do know that you aren't even supposed to pay attention to the "C's and D's"? That is the drill. It does make you better organized and more productive so it is a good skill to develop. And the drill is good for the priorities of life too. The question always is though how is is that we know what are the "A's"? At work it is always the balance between urgent and important. Sometimes the urgent takes over, but if we make that the priority standard then we end up chasing short-term tasks vs. also seeing the long-term strategic needs. If we err the other way then we end up looking over the horizon and missing the short-term, ultimately not getting much done. So, yes it is a balance. As believers we need to also factor in that we have another higher priority that must influence our to-do list. Galatians 5:22 tells us, "Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." We have to be sure that we get our "A1" right first and once we have that at the top of the list then from there "A2" and on and on will fall into place. So today as you sit down to look at that list in front of you, take a moment to be sure that your "A1" is living in the Spirit and allowing the Spirit to lead across all parts of our lives. That is the "A1" that we all should be sure we have in life and at work.

Reference: Galatians 5:22 (New Living Testament)

day 78: Reentry Day

Monday always feels like a point of reentry. In the days of space capsules (before the Challenger was invented) the point of reentry was always a time of tension. I can remember during the Apollo years the news anchors using their drawn diagrams on TV to help us pinpoint the exact angle of reentry to avoid the astronauts either burning up or skipping out into space. The country would hold their breath to see if everything went according to plan. The image is very vivid to me even to this day. If you can capture the metaphor then you can also feel like Monday is a reentry point. We spend the weekend moving away from the trials and tribulations of work (or so we try). We spend time with family and friends to decompress. We use our Sabbath time to be renewed and healed from the week past and to ready ourselves for the week coming. We try and get things right within ourselves so when we head back into the office we are ready for what will hit us. Monday is definitely a point of reentry. Not only to the tasks and work in front of us, but also to the culture that surrounds us. Out culture is a strong force that is always on us. It is powerful; whether it be the news thrust on us, the entertainment that we can choose, the politics that have become more and more a staple of everyday conversation, the fashion that we see, or the pressures put on us to conform to those around us. The culture comes from us at all angles and Monday morning is our reentry into much of what we experience culturally. We cannot help but be in the culture to work and be productive, but as we know we are not to become of the culture. We are given a call to action in Romans 12:2: "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think". Our ability to not be sucked into the the behavior and actions of those around us starts with how we think. We are not to become copies of the culture. As we head back into the office today to start this new week, use this week as the opportunity to begin recognizing how we can change our thoughts so that we don't become just a copy. Maybe this week would be a good week to begin giving yourself a little mental cue to remind yourself of the challenge Paul gave us in Romans. Each time you make a photocopy this week or print out a copy of something from your computer, stop for a moment and ask yourself, "am I thinking right to not become a copy of the world and what am I doing that demonstrates I am a new person?" If we start today with this new way of thinking we will not be a copy of the world and each and every reentry point will be at God's angle ensuring with His promises that we are safe and sound.

Reference: Romans 12:2 (New Living Testament)

day 77: The Elevator Pitch

In business we are all supposed to be able to boil down a proposal, a funding idea, or our objectives to no more than what it takes to travel a few floors on an elevator with someone else. The thought is if you can’t distill your idea/thoughts down to that amount of time you will lose your audience and that your audience could come to you at any moment and at any chance. There is a lot of truth in that concept. I have seen in my work life where some people are really great at this and others really struggle. Those who can do it come across with confidence and build assurance from those who are listening. It is a great skill to cultivate. During our business day we have many opportunities to also express our faith in a succinct and appropriate manner. Just this morning while completing a business breakfast when asked a question about what some of my future plans are I was able to share that I am a Christian and that I continue to pray about what it is that God wants me to do next. That took one sentence. The conversation about my faith didn’t go further than that, but the person who I was meeting now knows where I stand. I wish I could say that I had always had this level of confidence to share my faith. It was not that long ago that the words would not have rolled off of my tongue. In fact, they might not have even made it out of my mind to my mouth. We can each have our own way of expressing our faith to others but having that script in your mind that you are ready when the time is right can really help with confidence and courage. We are given many verses in the Bible that can prepare us and give us the words when we need them. That is why we are to store the word of God in our hearts and minds. The more we store the more we have to release. And then one day we are able to fulfill the challenge given to us in the parable of the lamp in Luke 8:16. Do you have your faith elevator pitch prepared and ready to go so that when the moment is right you can un-hide the words that are stored inside of you? Are there others at work who also share your faith that you can listen and draw upon their words? God gives us the moments and the chances; it is up to us to decide if we are ready. The best way to manage a chance is to be prepared.

Reference: Luke 8:16 (New Living Translation)

day 76: Break Time

We all need break times at work. Most states legislate that anyone who is on the clock must take a morning break, a lunch/dinner break and an afternoon break. Even 10 minutes sometimes to sit and clear the head is a good thing. When I want to take a break I like to go outside and take a walk or just go somewhere where I can look out the window undisturbed for a few minutes. I often notice though, that even in those quiet times my mind does not slow down and while I may be quiet, I am not being still. There is a skill to being still. Being still means letting everything that is on your mind go, letting the pressure dissipate, shutting off the conversation that is running in your head, taking deep breaths to release the stress that has been building up all day long. If you can find a place of stillness then you can begin to find some peace. We are told in Psalm 46:10 to be still and silent and to know that God is God. If we want to maximize our break time and find the right mindset throughout the day, we can get there by finding the time to find stillness and silence in our minds and practice our thoughts towards knowing that God is there for us and that He is our Almighty who can do awesome things. We are in a hurry, we are in a rush, we don't slow down to listen, appreciate the moment, or catch our breath. But we need to do so. We need to find the stillness to know that He is God. So today, on that break time, see if you can find the silence and stillness. Take a few moments today to get in that state of mind and bask in the knowledge of God. Don't worry, the world won't fall apart if you add these precious still minutes to your day. Instead you may find that the day comes back together and you work the rest of the day in a new spirit. That being and example of the spirit that others want for their lives.

Reference: Psalm 46:10 (New Living Testament)

day 75: Day Opener

Most people, myself included, like to start the workday with a cup of coffee to get the blood flowing and the eyes opened. You can catch up with just about everyone at the office if you stand at the coffee maker long enough. And, as we all know that we can also end up wasting time at the coffee bar as well. We have to be careful about that. That said there is something positively expectant in that first cup of coffee and the first hour of the day. This is the time that we get the engines revved for the day and get going. I like this time as one of the best times to set a meeting or get dedicated work done because everything is fresh and ready to go and before everyone gets distracted. The time management and productivity experts will all tell you that the first things have to come first and that the morning can be the best time to address those important and critical items. How is it that we can make the mornings even more productive and hopeful? Before we even arrive at the office we can start our day with extreme power by taking our requests to the Lord for each day and allow our first voice of the day to be words we express in prayer. Our preparation for the work day will be better if we start it as David describes in Psalms 5:3: "Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly." As we put together our to-do lists, our calendars, and our meeting schedules, we should remember that our prayer list is the one list that can really get things done today!

Reference: Psalm 5:3 (New Living Testament)

day 74: Shifting Sand

I sit on a number of corporate Boards and am asked to work with management teams and to speak on how to navigate and manage through uncertain times, shaky ground and shifting sand. In these sessions or talks I tend to spend a fair amount of time trying to address what has to be conscious disconnection of self-worth and one’s job. It is too easy to have the two be tangled together. We get used to describing ourselves and what we do by our job, title and company. And when, for any reason, that rug is pulled out from under us; we have a hard time finding our self-worth and ego footing. Many people just can’t accept the unpredicted and fearful change. They go into denial, anger and sometimes hiding. There is a reason that people will go indefinite time before they tell their family that they have lost their jobs. In today’s world it is reality that we are all standing on shifting sand at work. What was stable and always there before is now gone and jobs that are lost become hard, if not what feels impossible, to replace. And so we find that we can’t put our hope of our future with the company we love, the boss we respect and want to work for forever, or the paycheck that we are counting on for the fueling of our financial future. It is in times like these that we must remember that we cannot put our hope anywhere but with our Heavenly Father. David cried out in Proverbs as he tried to figure out where to put his hope. He says, "And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?”. He then answers himself with, “My only hope is in you." I was taught by my father to never put my faith in people, as people will always let you down. He was right. We should also not allow our hope in people or companies or jobs. We should continue to challenge ourselves to set our hope on solid rock so that when the sand shifts and we lose our balance or fall that we can pick ourselves back up with the hope that comes from our Lord. Today would be a good day to ask yourself where your hope lies. Are you putting hope in the right or the wrong place? The right place will deliver that sure and solid footing. All you have to do is put your hope in the Lord.

Reference: Psalms 39:7 (New Living Testament)

day 73: The Friday Troubles

I always start a Friday with some circumspection. I’m in a good mood because it is the end of the week, but I always watch out for what I call the “Friday Troubles”. It seems like Fridays are a good day for everyone to unload whatever they want on everyone else and try and get the monkey off their backs. I once had a lawyer tell me that it is an unwritten thing in the legal world that when an attorney wants to be nasty they serve their lawsuits on Friday afternoons to just ruin the other party’s weekend. My phenomenon was that on Friday afternoons around 3pm I could expect some form of “trouble”. It might be someone that was not happy and wanted to leave that on my doorstep for the weekend or that someone had something urgent that needed to be delivered by Monday morning. Sometimes big things, sometimes small, but troubling all the same. Over the years I learned how to deal with those troubles (and the troubles throughout all of the week) but it was not until the last few years that I could look at those troubles as good things that were there to make me better. And even that sounds a little too Polly Ann-ish when those troubles really are troubling. But you see that is how God wants us to approach our troubles. He wants us to recognize them for what they are (don’t deny unrealistically) and then to stare them down as challenges that will pass and make us stronger. We are to do that with a positive attitude. We are taught this in 2 Corinthians 4:17: “For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!” Paul was talking about different kinds of troubles but troubles are troubles in the eyes of God if we hand them over to Him. We all have our different ones, but if we hand them over to Him then we can know that our dealing with them will pass but in how we deal with them comes the lessons, the learning, the growth and ultimately the glory. In today’s business environment there is plenty of trouble to go around. On this Friday don’t miss the opportunity to let your troubles know that you know that they are not here forever and that you are going to make glory from them. You might be really surprised just how less troubling they are now than they were before.


Reference: 2 Corinthians 4:17 (New Living Testament)

day 72: Growth Charts

One of the redeeming things about going to the doctor when I was a kid was the standardized grow charts where I could see how I measured up to other kids my age. I had no idea what a percentile meant back then, but I always liked it when I heard the “top” of anything. Back then it was the top quartile. That changed after 8th grade when I learned that I had my growth spurt before everyone else and like the peloton closing in on the breakaway cyclist in the Tour de France, I could see the pack catching up and by 10th grade I was no longer in the “top” anymore. Just like our physical growth, we each want to grow spiritually and we practice and discipline ourselves to ensure that we are doing the right things, studying, praying, worshipping and fellowshipping. We work hard at it at work too to be the better person and to be the same person at the office as who we are on Sunday mornings. We can take heed and promise that we are growing with this discipline and practice. In Colossians we are told: "Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. " We have no idea how much we are growing until someone puts our back against the wall and puts a mark over our head, or until the aunt we haven’t seen in who knows how long, makes the obvious declaration, “Oh my, how you have grown”. Whether we know it or not, when we are striving and persevering and using all aspects of our lives to live (and work) to the purpose we have been given, we are growing in the eyes of God and of men. Others who we work with may not be able to put a finger on what it is, or even try to do so, but they can see it and if we stay consistent in our growth and the outpourings of this growth it will be more than obvious; others will want what you are having. We can start that growth today and make our own mark on the Kingdom’s growth chart.

Reference: Colossians 1:10, (New Living Testament)

day 71: Cleaning Out Our Office

About once every 18 months or so, I would have to ask my assistant to come in on a Saturday with me and help me clean out my office. I was a pack rat. I just felt like I needed to hang on to “stuff”, just in case I needed it for the future. Most of it, I never needed ever again. When Sarbanes-Oxley came along and record retention went from ensuring that the right records were retained, to making sure everything was gone that wasn’t absolutely necessary, I had to get even more aggressive about keeping my files clean. I took a course once on how to best clean out your office. You start with three labeled boxes in the middle of your floor. The first one is labeled; "trash/shred". The second one is labeled; "file somewhere else other than in my office". The third one is labeled; "refile in my office". Every file and drawer in the office is emptied and is to be put in one of the three boxes (or piles) before anything goes back in a drawer or a file. If you are disciplined, what happens is that only the essential stays and all the rest gets trashed or moved out to be determined over time if it is needed (like clothes in our closets, if we haven’t worn them in a year…they can go) or not. We need to clean out our office regularly just as we need to clean out ourselves too. We spent time earlier this year on "worKING Clothes" and what we should wear to work, but what should we throw out now to make room for the good stuff? Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:31 what to put in the trash and shred box. He says; “Get rid of all the bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior.” At first reading, we might be saying, that is not me. “I am not bitter or have rage, anger towards others and for sure I don’t slander or am I malicious to others”. Most of us are not the prime suspects for these things so pointedly, but we each have a little of these that can creep up when we least expect it. I’m always surprised when I see the nicest looking people yelling something not nice on the highway behind their car windows at someone else. It seems everyone has a little road rage down deep inside of them. We all have the makings of not being nice and allowing our emotions to get the best of us. Work seems to egg it on in most of us too. Now is the time to put the three boxes in your office and evaluate what stays and what goes. A little housecleaning at the beginning of the year could be a good thing for all of us.

Reference: Ephesians 4:31 (New Living Testament)

day 70: Troublemakers

Some people just love to stir the pot and cause trouble. When they cause trouble they get some satisfaction out of being the one that got everyone up in arms and excited, disturbed, and anxious. Sometimes the motives can seem malicious but I think that at work, more often than not, it is more about getting attention and creating a fracas that they might end up being the person to fix it or save the day. And, it's not always big things. It can be the smallest of words whispered as gossip or a rumor that sets the building on fire. Any of us can end up being on the receiving end of the news and of course, that ruins anyones day. I once worked with someone who was like this. I don't think he was mean-spirited, but at the end of the day, he caused lots and lots of trouble and over time he was found out and people became very careful and leery of him. Before too long he had to have felt very alone. That is no way to live or work. The wise and challenged man, Job, gave us words for troublemakers. He says in Job 4:8: "My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same." This is not to be wished upon anyone, but it is a fair warning that if we find ourselves being one who starts to stir the pot, pass a rumor, get in the midst of gossip, create trouble for the sake of creating trouble or just participating in the trouble, that we can expect not such good things in return. My experience has shown me that these are things that creep up on us. We may not in any way think that we are creating trouble, but by just not thinking before we act or allowing someone else we associate with to get a little further out there than they should, that we all of a sudden are swept into something that we wished we had stayed far from. So, we are to be cautious and cognizant of our actions and we are to be vigilant to keep out of trouble's way. And, of course, no one likes a troublemaker.

Reference: Job 4:8 (NLT)

day 69: worKING Clothes; part 5 - Patience

At work we are reminded daily of the annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly, daily, and hourly results and expectations. That's the way business works. The more granular and specific the targets and expectations, the better chance we have of meeting the goals as established. I once worked for someone who said, "We inspect what we expect and we expect what we inspect". Makes sense to me. However, with all of these targets and measurements we can become impatient in our expectations of others and end up driving the wrong reactions. When we are impatient everyone knows it. They know that we are asking for something that is not practical or possible, and we are just doing it for the sake of being impatient and trying to drive the ball down the field. When we get impatient though, we can make mistakes in our judgement and worse yet, we can end up treating other people badly in the process. Placing on others impatiently created expectations only leads to a loss of credibility and respect from the other person. But, we tend to be impatient, all the time, and it becomes a habit. So, how do we break the pattern? How do we find the balance between knowing what is reasonable and patient and what is not? First we must understand that we are called to be patient. Paul asks us to clothe ourselves with patience in Colossians 3:12: "Since God chose you to be the holy people whom He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." If we start from a place of knowing that this is an expectation and part of our calling and purpose then we can take patience on with a higher level of intentionality. Becoming patient is a great challenge to ask someone at work to help you with. Find that person who you trust and always tells it to you the way it is regardless of how you will feel afterwards. Ask her/him to point out when you are being impatient with others and yourself. Tell them to be sure to not hold back and to be bluntly and timely honest with you. Listen carefully and start to make the changes necessary to being a more patient person. At work, patience with others can many times be the difference between gaining commitment versus just compliance. There is a reason it is considered a virtue.

Patience wraps up the last of five things that Paul tells us to clothe ourselves with. As we go to work and we put on our work clothes we are to ensure that we have tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. If we wear those to work everyday, how could we not be making the best impression and setting the best of examples? And, we can be assured that this a work outfit that never wears out.

Reference: Colossians 3:12 (New Living Testament)

day 68: worKING Clothes; part 4 - Gentleness

For many it is a frightening time in the work place. What seemed solid footing not that long ago has not become shifting sand and for the first time in a long time the loss of a job means that there is no prospect of employment any time soon. Companies are downsizing at a rate that does not show to be slowing. As I advise companies on how to go through this challenging and very difficult action, I remind them that the word "grace" should be top of mind as they plan and take action. In these most difficult of times we should also remember that being "gentle" with each other is a trait of one who is living to God's purpose. We don't hear that word much in the work place unless it is in the context of a caution prior to doing something that we already know will not be gentle in its delivery. Yet, we are called to be gentle in Colossians. Paul says, "Since God chose you to be the holy people whom He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness...". For us to bring gentleness into the work place it demands that we have already tendered our heart to others and upped the empathy scale by multiples. If we are living within ourselves and our own agendas then we can never see or feel enough of another person to be gentle in our own behavior. It is ironic that many times the people we specify as being gentle are those whose physical characteristics would tend to be the opposite. We latch on to the bear-like person who is gentle in their nature. We don't have to be bear-like to be gentle and we can be gentle in our everyday approach to work and still get the job done. The tone and level of our voices, a removal of abruptness, the lingering for a moment after the conversation to allow the other person to respond, the touch of a hand, these are all mannerisms that we can take on to be gentle in our approach. But, at the base level it returns to our attitude towards others and our internal spirit. Are we ready within ourselves to be gentle? Have we gotten ourselves to a point in our heart and mind that we can be like Jesus was with those that he interacted? If we can don gentleness as part of our working outfit we will better represent the example we want others to see. What better day than today to put on gentleness as part of your working clothes?

Reference: Colossians 3:12 (New Living Testament)

day 67: worKING Clothes; part 3 - Humility

Throughout these Purposed worKING blogs we have spent a fair amount of time on humility and the importance of demonstrating it in the work place. Why so much time on this topic? It is for two reasons; first, the Bible is full of rich examples of the need and direction for humility, secondly, and more pertinent, is that the work place demands just the opposite and so practicing humility becomes a real chore and challenge. Work is set up for us to achieve and be recognized for what we do. When Adam Smith broke down work into tasks and individual contributions humility slipped right off the conveyor belt. How do you get to the top or the next job or promotion if you don't be sure that someone knows what you are doing and that you are singled out and recognized for your contributions? That's just the way work works. So are we really to be humble at work? Yes, we are. Paul says it in Colossians 3:12: "Since God chose you to be the holy people whom He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility..." Humility can come in many forms. I don't think we are meant to walk around with our heads down and stand in the back of the crowd and not to step forward when our name is called to be recognized. But, we are to be cognizant that nothing we do, in work or in our lives, is a solo effort. Even the greatest athletes who perform in a singular sport are quick to recognize the coach or training partner who got them to their peak performance. Anyone who stands in front of others and doesn't have the humility to recognize those who helped them get to where they are has no sense of humility. Each and every day at work we have the moment where we can bask in the solo recognition or we can add on to the email back that it was a team effort and really we should be recognizing Joe or Jane for the work they did on the project. Great leaders, as defined by those we want to work for or with, know how to do this. They may be confident and assured in their positions and work but they know how to be humble in their recognition and acknowledgements. We can all be more humble. It's not easy to be so, that is why we read so many lessons about learning to be so in the Bible. It is why Paul tells us that we "must" clothe ourselves with humility. We, as those who want to bring purpose to our work and be examples to others, are required to suit up with humility each and every day.

Reference: Colossians 3:12 (New Living Testament)

day 66: worKING Clothes; part 2 - Kindness

At my first real job, way back when, there was a woman named Pat who no matter what the situation was upbeat, positive and encouraging to others. Anyone who knew of her would say the same about her. She was a special person. But, it was not just her uplifting demeanor that made her special, it was more so that she was very kind to others. She always had time for others, regardless of her own deadlines. She always would stop you in the hall and say hello and leave the conversation with "have a great day". She went out of her way to check in and see how you were doing when she knew that you were up against something hard or a struggle. She would be sure to remember special days like your birthday or anniversary. Pat was special because Pat was kind. Kindness is an outfit of our worKING clothes. Paul says it in Colossians 3:12: "Since God chose you to be the holy people whom He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness...". Kindness takes work and intentionality. To be kind we must think ahead and approach each day with a convicted spirit and heart to think of others first and ourselves second. We must clear our minds and our busy schedules in our head, to be sure that we are thinking ahead of situations and people so that we offer the first word of kindness in the conversation, before we get off track and forget. Kindness can be practiced and kindness can be learned. Today there is someone in your work place who you know has a heart of kindness and who you would immediately tag with being kind. Watch and listen to them today. They won't be perfect, no one is, but see the model and learn from them. And then prayerfully submit yourself to becoming kind in your own spirit and behavior. Kindness is part of our working outfit and if we clothe ourselves to the task at hand we will be ready for whatever comes our way.


Reference: Colossians 3:12 (New Living Testament)

day 65: worKING Clothes; part 1 - Tenderhearted Mercy

Over my career I have seen people make lots and lots of mistakes. Sometimes they were small mistakes made out of innocence or ignorance. Sometimes they were bigger mistakes made out of carelessness or negligence. Other times they were colossal mistakes made out of spite or maliciousness. Each type of mistake garners its own type of response and reaction. Yes, it is true, for each and every action, their is a reaction. The question is, what is to be our reactions as followers of Jesus? We all know that in the workplace us can't be wallflowers or let others run over us just because we try and live our faith in our work. If we did, then we would more than likely be ineffectual in our jobs and not likely to succeed. However, we can stand up for ourselves and be strong in our approach but still do so in away that sets an example that we desire. When mistakes are made or actions taken where we are in the position of deciding what the response should be, Paul gives us directions in Colossians 3:12 on how we are to clothe ourselves for these work and life situations. He says, "Since God chose you to be the holy people whom He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy..." We many times equate the cry for mercy being what you hear from movies, TV and novels when someone was being tortured. But we should remember and recognize that each day we have the opportunity to tender our own hearts and show mercy on those who are in need. They may not be crying out in physical pain or begging for mercy but in their apologies for their mistakes or oversights they are asking for mercy in our reactions and responses. There are many instances where we have to take the hardest of lines and there is no choice, but even in those times we should examine ourselves to ensure that we have been tenderhearted in our approach and put ourselves in their shoes and apply the Golden Rule. The clothes we wear to work have to be durable and long-lasting. God does give us those.


Reference: Colossians 3:12 (New Living Testament)

day 64: Our Response

Work is filled with back-biting, accusations, taunting and sometimes what can feel like downright slandering. It happens all the time as emails fly around and meetings are held without the knowledge of everyone, or the closed door sessions happen when you can't be there to defend yourself. It gets really hard in these circumstances to take the higher ground and not fall into the trap of wanting to lash back out. We know we shouldn't but it can be so deeply ingrained in the culture of the company to do so, that we feel like we have to battle to hold our own ground. Not all work places are like this, but more have this characteristic than you would imagine. So how are we to manage in this environment and still keep our purposed working lives pure? Paul gives us a verse in Ephesians 4:15: "Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ...". We know that the ultimate truth which is found in God outweighs all of the untruths and around us daily. We also know that the response of love is always more powerful than the retort or the loss of control in anger or retribution. If we can find ourselves continuously rooted in truth and love then all of the situations we face will be of little consequence in the long-run. In the short-run as we live and work day-to-day we can take confidence knowing that if we stay on the side of truth and love that our attackers have less ammunition and their attacks will be received with much less satisfaction. In our responses to how things and people come after us at work, we can stay rooted in truth and love, then even those who make an enjoyment of building controversy will find other targets. So, today, think through the responses that you will make and the attitude that others will see coming from you. Can they see that you are one who cares only about the truth and love?

Reference: Ephesians 4:15 (New Living Testament)

day 63: Back To The Ordinary

January can be one of the most exciting months of the year because of the feeling of a new start that comes with a new year. But for most, January is the month of deprivation. This is the month that we resolve to do more with less, lose a few pounds with less intake and more output, be more diligent with exercise schedules, balance out work and life better, etc. You know the list. At work it is the beginning of a quarter or a fiscal year and even before the year is really started we are already setting down and planning and adjusting to be sure that we can hit the targets that we have set for ourselves. With a swirling external economic climate, we may already be cutting back to make sure that we have breathing room in the coming months and year. So, after all the Christmas build up and holiday enthusiasm, January can feel like a real let down and a hard time for many. As I reflected on the January doldrums I was reminded of how Joseph and Mary must have felt after their first Christmas. What a heady experience to have given birth to a new son, to have experienced the coming of the angel and the visitors being drawn to the stable to see and worship the baby Jesus, and to have gone to the Temple and had Simeon and Anna prophecy over their child. And then, it was over. The angel was gone, the shepherds and visitors had gone their own way and it was time to go home. Mary and Joseph left the temple and the Bible says in Luke 2:39; "...they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee". For Mary it was now to work to raise a child and for Joseph it was back to his carpentry and making a living for his family and now with one new mouth to feed. It was back to the ordinary for both of them. It was a January and a new year, a year to go back to work and do what was needed to make their own ends meet. Our life and work life of purpose is not to always be filled with highs. It would be great if it was that way, but we all know that it just doesn't work out that way. Our lives are filled with the ordinary and the routine. And, even in the ordinary and the routine we are to seek and work to live to the high standards we have been given as followers of Jesus. As we each start this work year, let us take all of the lessons given to us and do our best to apply them each and every day, knowing that like Joseph and Mary, that returning back to Nazareth was one ordinary step on what was to become a miraculous life journey. They didn't know it then, as we don't know today, but what can come from the ordinary, lived and pursued with righteousness, can be nothing short of extraordinary.

Reference: Luke 2:39 (New Living Testament)