day 456: Where Is The Love?

Ever notice that at work there is not really a constant flow or outpouring of gratitude, recognition, congratulations, or encouragement? Work is a series of ups and downs and highs and lows. One day we are on top of the world because everything is going great and the boss loves what we are doing and we can feel the love being sent our way. And then there is the next day where nothing goes right and the boss is a little aloof or the positive reinforcement feels like it has drifted and we find ourselves questioning where we stand or what she/he thinks of us now. It's a rollercoaster of emotions and we can find ourselves saying to ourselves, "Where is the love?" I'm not sure that any boss is so good that they can be consistently sending the love out so that each and every person on their team is receiving it at the right time and in just the right way. So what we do is we try and find trend lines and we manage and skate on that trend line and we do so with our emotions and feelings of value fluctuating. If we are bosses of others, then we should try and change that with our people and be sure that we are doing better to straighten out the line and provide consistency. If we are on the receiving end of the feedback then we need to be sure that we are not putting too much of our personal self-esteem and self-worth on the feedback and comments of our boss or our peers. We have to be sure that we don't need the high of the rollercoaster ride to fulfill us. There is only one place where we can find consistent and truly unconditional love and that is within our relationship with Christ. Paul tells us that nothing can separate the love that He sends to us each and every day. It does not matter what our performance may be as God doesn't grade on a curve and He doesn't compare us to others. See Romans 8:38-39; "I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord". Today, do a little internal checking or yourself and see if the need for the affirmation and recognition of the boss and others at work has become too important. If so, it is time to pull back and realize that you are asking, "Where is the love", from a place that will always let you down at some point. Rather, focus back on where the love can never be separated, disrupted or removed. That is the love we all really need.

Reference: Romans 8:38-39