I’m a sweater. Not the kind you wear but the kind of guy that breaks out in a fit of perspiration whenever I get hot. Even now, when I am mainly coaching and not playing much, I can have a saturated shirt before the game even starts. To be honest I kind of like that. When I sweat I feel good. I might not look good (or smell good for that matter) but there is something honest and appealing about working hard and exerting yourself to the point of working up a sweat. That is true in athletics and is also true in our occupations.
I want to continue some thoughts related to our love and hate relationship with work. In our first article on the topic we uncovered how man was cursed in his work because of his disobedience to God in the garden. In Genesis we hear God describing his new working environment like this, “Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you ; and you shall eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” It is this work environment that has created a relationship that can be described as on-again-off-again. Kind of like the junior high girl who can’t decide if she likes you.
Today I want to make some observations about the idea of work that both bless us and curse us. Before I start on my list, take a second and make a list of things you love about work and things you don’t love about work. My list is below of what I love and hate about the SWEAT I experience in my job.
Success and failure are everywhere- Our work is a major source of both our successes and our failures. I can go from the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat in a matter of back-to-back phone calls. On the wall in my office is a specific sales goal that I have for my area. When I reach the goal I am elated and when the recession hits I find myself in the doldrums. My work is a place where I experience both highs and lows and it is hard not to both love and hate the environment that keeps me on an emotional rollercoaster. Love it or hate it work brings both success and failure.
Work is hard- I love to work hard. I hate to work hard. Sometimes there is nothing more exhilarating than to experience the grind. Sometimes there is nothing more frustrating than to experience the grind. I am proud of the fact that I am a hard worker. I am weary thinking about how much work it takes just to survive. I find within myself a Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type of experience. On one hand I am drawn to a life of ease on the other I must work to feel good about myself. I have heard it said that all great things come on the back of great effort and that is true but life also exists outside of the realm of great things and occurs in the quiet moments of rest. Love it or hate it work is hard.
Encouragement and discouragement rule the day- This observation is at the heart of the previous two. Our jobs both fill us with courage and at the same time back us into the proverbial corner and beats the snot out of us. Just ask the guy who just got a promotion or a raise and you will find that he walks among the cloud (however momentarily). King of the castle! What an encouragement to be recognized. But, you also need to ask the guys who lost their job in the recession about the utter helplessness they felt when the job search went on longer than they anticipated. Jester of the court! How can this thing called work have so much sway in how we feel about ourselves? Maybe it shouldn’t but it does. Love it our hate it work is a major source of both encouragement and discouragement
Accountability is a part from top to bottom – I don’t know about you but I both love and hate that I am man under authority. There is a safety in knowing that my propensity to do my own thing at the expense of others is balanced by the fact that I am responsible and accountable to my company. And that doesn’t matter where you fit on the organizational chart. If you are at the top you are accountable to the shareholders and the employees. If you are on the bottom of the heap you have bosses who you have agreed to perform a function for in exchange for money to pay your bills. If you are in the middle you get a little of both. The unexamined life has been said to not be worth living and I think that is true. But, the life lived under the scrutiny of accountability can be difficult at times as it exposes your true self. Love it or hate it work is a place where you will be accountable for your actions.
Time is exchanged for our labor- If I didn’t work I really don’t know what I would do with my time. I love vacation but after a while I am ready to get back to work. Easily one third of our waking hours are taken up by work and while I love the structure I am also frustrated at times by how much of my time is extracted each day by my work. My day is probably not much different than yours. I get up early enough to have a small prepare-for-the-day time and connect briefly with my family. I then go to work for an extended period of time. After returning home I engage with my family and their activities until we grow weary and go to bed to start the process again the next day. Weekends are filled with the things that we wish we had time to do during the week and over time you begin to wonder if you are on the right train. Am I using my time in the best way? Work both fills my time with meaning and robs me of time to do the things I want to do. Love it or hate it work takes a lot of time.
Our workplace is the best of time and the worst of times. We struggle to find meaning in the midst of the chaos at times. And then occasionally we get to experience a little of what Adam must have experienced before the fall: a little heaven on earth. Do I love to work? Sometimes! Do I hate to work? Sometimes! Love it or hate it one thing is clear: work is here to stay so we need to deal with it. I agree with Solomon who said, “I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor- it is the gift of God.” Thanks Lord for the gift of work.
Photo by RLHyde
