day 1413: Learnings From The Camino (part 1): A Very Long Walk

"Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”

The first thing you need to know about the Camino de Santiago is that it is a very long walk.  Depending upon where you start, it can be as long as you want it to be.  Here is the map of Europe that shows all the different ways one can walk (or bike) all to Santiago, Spain:

 My Camino journey was just at 100 miles. For other pilgrims I met on the Camino their walk was eight times and plus that distance. When we decide to do anything that is going to be long and arduous, it takes commitment and a reason.  When we think about delivering on an organizational strategy it means that it won't happen overnight and that many people will have to be committed for a long walk.  A learning from the Camino is that if we allow each person to understand why they individually will want to sign up for the long walk, that there is real power in the "What's in it for me" mentality.  While we don't want to set up activities and purposes that revolve just around the "me" in us, it is very much in that place where if we are honest, we can understand and express our "why".  And knowing our "why" is a powerful motivator.

Our walk with God is as long as He determines it will be, which we don't know the length until the end. But, we can make that walk in assurance because of where we know we are going. There is no greater "why" than this!  Today, we start a continuation of that walk and will see arrows and signs pushing and pulling us in many directions.  If we keep our eyes on Christ, then the path we are walking, the words that we speak, the actions that we take will be moving us in the right direction in our walk with Him.

Reference: Genesis 13:17 (New Living Translation)

NOTE: Purposed worKING will be moving from Google's Blogger to http://www.purposedworking.com/ in the next week or so.  Shortly, you will be asked to receive your daily email from Feedblitz.  I hope you decide to come along for a new look and improved features.

day 1412: A Huge Thank You

"...rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

For our faithful readers, you know that I asked a number of friends to contribute to Purposed worKING while I walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain.  The response was so great that the post contributions were more than the days I was gone, but that just added to my extended pilgrimage time, to which I am very grateful. Now I am back and want to say thank you to all of our guest contributors.  It was special to me to see working professionals step forward and share their faith and how they bring glory to God in their jobs and lives. We don't say thank you enough in the workplace, but imagine if we did?  What if we thanked the security guard for keeping us safe?  What if we thanked the cafeteria worker for keeping the tables so clean?  What if we thanked the tax guys for being so diligent in their calculations?  How hard is it to thank someone? It's not, but still we don't do it.  Consider the power of a thank you and try wielding some of that power today as aggressively as you like!

We are taught to be thankful for all that we have, since none of it came from us and none of it is ours.  I am thankful for those who allowed me to travel on the Camino (good for the body, mind and soul, which I will detail out in next week's Purposed worKINGS), including my wife Patti who gave me the time and space to travel and be away from home and out of touch.  With a spirit of thankfulness our days will start better and those around us will recognize our "up" attitude.  It is hard to be a complainer and be thankful at the same time. Thankfulness trumps many other negatives, so if we just start today with a thank you to those who we never say thank you, it will be a better day for all!

Reference:  Colossians 2:7 (New Living Testament)

NOTE: Purposed worKING will be moving from Google's Blogger to http://www.purposedworking.com/ in the next week or so.  Shortly, you will be asked to receive your daily email from Feedblitz.  I hope you decide to come along for a new look and improved features. 

day 1411: The Call To Witness

While on a pilgrimage walk on the Camino de Santiago (St. James Way) in Spain, I asked some of the most committed and courageous faith-driven business leaders I know to guest contribute to Purposed worKING.  Enjoy! - Rusty

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“And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’” - Mark 16:15

Mental images of street corner preachers come to mind along with those of people brandishing picket signs or pacing in-between sandwich boards. I often wondered to what degree their methods served more to reaffirm the suspicions of non-believers or give people an inaccurate representation of our faith. “All the prima donna preachers, make people turn away. But they’re nothing special. Their weakness lies awake.” For the longest time I wondered how and when I would witness. But I should have been asking “HOW would I witness?”


“As it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one…’” - Romans 3:10

“I’ve walked through many streets, but I’ve come home clean…” My own desires to push forward remained on the back burner as life took center stage. More and more I found myself in the presence of non-believers… some of them militantly so. I never kept my belief hidden, but I never volunteered the information. Or so I thought.

Over the years I found myself, not only in the presence of potential persecutors but in their favor as well. At times they became allies and defenders during challenging times. I could have pushed hard to witness as the obedient soldier but, so often, we push our own agenda and not that of God’s. It would feel like a form of idolatry as we try to create God in our own image rather than the other way around.


“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Over the years I’ve come to realize that there are many ways to witness. In my own situation, God keeps placing unlikely supporters in my path. They’ve come to trust me and, when the opportunity presents itself, I speak of my faith. Somehow, God softens their hearts. Maybe it is because they know that I am a “kid” from the hood who should have developed a certain cynicism and street smart. Maybe, as some have told me, they don’t feel judged by me and are therefore comfortable in not judging me. Maybe it's because I am aware that "they will know we are Christians by our love." It happens time and time again. For years I wanted to know how to go about witnessing without forcing my own agenda and I have come to see that the opportunity keeps presenting itself without any effort of my own. I’m pleased and look forward to each new encounter. It appears that I have been witnessing along.

God is funny.





Craig Abaya

day 1410: Of Course I snapped At You! What Were You Thinking ???

While on a pilgrimage walk on the Camino de Santiago (St. James Way) in Spain, I asked some of the most committed and courageous faith-driven business leaders I know to guest contribute to Purposed worKING.  Enjoy! - Rusty


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“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you, and to show esteem them with special love on account of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.”  

“It is good sense to be slow to anger, and an honor to overlook an offense.”

Holy moley! How can the people we work with make so many mistakes?  I mean, don’t they think before they act?  Am I supposed to just smile and say, “It’s okay, no worries”?

The answer is kind of, “Yes”. Of course, at work (and in broader life) we are expected to provide criticism – constructive criticism. But occasionally I fail at this. I get frustrated and can “snap” at people on my team. Fortunately, sometimes they tell me that what I did didn’t feel good. Although it confronts me with a mistake that I have clearly made (and I don’t like making mistakes). It is a gift because it gives me the opportunity to “recover”. It gives me a chance to give them back respect, to make a sincere apology, and hopefully to increase my awareness of my weaknesses so that I can improve. There are so many lessons and opportunities in these type situations.

First and foremost is that God wants us to love each other. Sometimes it’s hard to love people (some harder than others!). These are great opportunities at work and home to live our love.

Second, it is so important for us to be examples of Jesus love, patience and goodness. Every test like this that God gives us is an opportunity to emulate Jesus. People notice and are influenced.  Finally people deserve the “best” from me. When I fail to be patient, kind or respectful, they are not getting the best of me that they deserve.

Reference: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (New American Bible)  and Proverbs 19:11 (New American Bible)

Tom Koch

day 1409: Suffering

While on a pilgrimage walk on the Camino de Santiago (St. James Way) in Spain, I asked some of the most committed and courageous faith-driven business leaders I know to guest contribute to Purposed worKING.  Enjoy! - Rusty
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"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

This is a topic that's been on my mind quite a bit lately. I don't know about you but I've certainly had my share of suffering in life and I'm reasonably sure that there's more to come. In considering "suffering" I think about physical pain brought on by an injury or illness; emotional pain resulting from a broken relationship or unmet expectations; psychological pain in the form of depression or shame. 

I've definitely had my periods of suffering in the context of work. I think to times in my life when work was seemingly unbearable for a myriad of reasons: hostile co-workers; days filled with mind-numbing tasks; unreasonable bosses; well, you get the picture. I've also been laid off and found myself questioning my value as a person because my identity was so closely tied to my work. In short, work has been a source of much suffering throughout the course of my life. 

I have to be honest... I really, really, dislike suffering. If I had it my way, I would never have to endure suffering one more moment of my life. That said, the Bible has a much different perspective on suffering. In his letter to the Romans, Paul states that "we also glory in our sufferings". WHAT?!?! Glory and rejoicing are not the first things that come to mind when I think of suffering. Paul goes on to say that "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." So... suffering can lead to hope. Huh.

I do believe in my heart that suffering can lead to hope. However, I don't think that suffering necessarily leads to hope. I don't think that suffering necessarily produce perseverance. I think suffering provides an opportunity for perseverance. I think we can just "make it" or just "survive" through suffering and I don't think the product in that case is perseverance. I've thought a lot about what perseverance looks like in the midst of suffering and while I can't say definitively for everyone what it should look like, I have an idea what it looks like for me.

To me, to persevere is to contend. To suck it up and continue to do the right things no matter how painful. To love those who are not easy to love. To be an example to those around us and approach seemingly impossible situations at work with a positive attitude. To humble myself when I feel like I'm being attacked.

I'm going through a period of suffering even as I type this and I ask myself, "what will this period reveal about my character? Will I persevere and emerge from this period with hope, or will I just survive?" 

For now, I will glory in my suffering and see what follows.

 

Reference: Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)

David Lee

day 1408: We Are Not Alone

While on a pilgrimage walk on the Camino de Santiago (St. James Way) in Spain, I asked some of the most committed and courageous faith-driven business leaders I know to guest contribute to Purposed worKING.  Enjoy! - Rusty


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“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.”

“And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

Sometimes we can feel so alone in our work or at work. Perhaps it’s because we work remotely in our home office, or in a satellite office separate from the “core team”.  Maybe we’re at corporate headquarters but we get left off of an important team assignment or left off of an invitation list to a meeting or event. Or maybe we bombed a presentation or decision even though we gave it our best thinking and effort. We’ve all started new jobs, in new cities, sometimes in companies that didn’t do a good job of helping onboard and integrate us. We’ve all seen environments where cliques are strong and breaking through is hard.

There are just so many circumstances that can allow us to feel completely alone, isolated and even ostracized. Yet, we are NEVER alone. We just forget that we are not alone.

God sent his Son to earth to be with us, to die for us. Having come as man Jesus is with us always. He walks with us always. He is more reliable than even the best co-worker, friend or even spouse. Jesus always shows up. The simple fact is, it’s us who forget.

So next time you are feeling alone, remember, He is already there. He is always there. We definitely are NOT alone.

Reference:  Psalms 25:16-17 (New International Version) and Matthew 28:20 (New American Bible)

Tom Koch

day 1407: Following Instructions

While on a pilgrimage walk on the Camino de Santiago (St. James Way) in Spain, I  asked some of the most committed and courageous faith-driven business leaders I know to guest contribute to Purposed worKING.  Enjoy! - Rusty

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"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. "

In our work lives we are given instructions of tasks to carry out on a frequent basis. For some tasks vary day to day while for others they are more repetitive. Whatever the circumstance it is important we carry out our work instructions as given. The phrase 'cut corners' is used often in business when describing why a person failed at their tasks. It takes strength and courage to do the hard work when cutting corners and seeking the easy way out in order to go on to other things - personal things appears to be the right way to go.

In our faith walk, God reminds us to be careful to obey His instructions passed to us through Moses and not to deviate from them but stay focused on the important things at hand - His will.

God's instructions are not gray, they are black and white and living our lives His way results in success in everything we do. BTW: Success is not defined by striving to obtain earthly wealth but by the peace we have through accepting Christ and the knowledge we will be in relationship with Him for an eternity.

Reference:  Joshua 1: 7-8

Hank Stringer