Faith From 9 to 5

Just how nice do you have to be at work?

I'm helping out with a big project at my church.  It's a big event that we're hoping will have a big impact on the church as it moves forward and those of us involved in the planning are very excited about it.

Well, while I was polishing up a handout we'll be using I decided to reach out to another church in a nearby state to see if I could get some information from them since they've also gone through some big changes and had an event similar to the one we're doing.

So I called the office and asked to speak to the person whose name I had.  The woman on the other end of the phone said "who?" (In a voice that sounded like I had called the FBI and asked to speak to Agent Mulder).  So I repeated the name and also gave the person's job title.  The woman said "look, I don't know who you're talking about."  I tried to explain a little bit about how I had gotten the person's name but the woman on the other end of the phone sounded like she was getting more and more aggitated.  Finally it dawned on me to ask what town her church as in.  Apprarently I had picked the wrong one when I Googled the church's name.

Now, that's an honest mistake don't you think?  It's not like I called her up and asked if she had Prince Albert in a can or anything. 

I can appreciate that I confused her with my question.  I can also appreciate that perhaps I had interrupted some important work she was doing and that she was tense and stressed out.

You know there's a "but" in here, don't you...

BUT when that phone rings we're SUPPOSED to be nice...at least polite.   I know that it's a drag to get interrupted and not all of us are social animals, but to a large degree being courteous is a big part of everyone's job.  This is a great example of why I don't think the Golden Rule really applies at work.  Check out my post on the Platinum Rule for more information, but I think we've got to go out of our way to be nice to people.  And that means being sensitive to how we may come across to others.

I have a very expressive voice and I'm a very emotional person.  I have to make extra effort to not allow negative emotions to come out when dealing with others...especially over the phone.

Does this relate to faith at work?  I think it absolutely does.  Loving our neighbor isn't something we do only when our neighbor needs some love.  It's something each of us can do in every interaction we have with people.  And remember, in the parable of the Good Samaritan, the example of "love" was showing compassion, kindness, and charity to someone in need. 

So how will you do that in the office each day?

Do you say one thing and do another?

One of the scripture readings on Sunday was one of my favorite sections of Paul's letter to the Romans.  I think It's one place where he sounds so absolutely normal. 

In Romans 7:15-19 Paul discusses what the NRSV chapter heading calls "the inner conflict". Here's what he says:

15 I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good.

17 But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.

18 for I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh.  I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.

19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.

This to me is one of the big mysteries of life and it applies in so many places of our lives.  For example, we SAY we want to lose weight yet we indulge in our favorite treats more often than we should and don't work out as often as we need to.  We say we want to save money yet we don't do it. 

We also say we're people of faith and that we believe in the teachings of Christ yet there are so many times when we don't follow the two great commandments...especially at work. 

There are so many times over the years that I've done something and then thought "now WHY did I do that?"

Whether it's peer pressure in the moment, our pride rearing it's ugly head, or lashing out in anger...it's so easy to allow our emotions to rule our heads and hearts.

I believe this issue is one of the great challenges we face as faithful people living in the world.  I don't have an easy answer except that we have to take every step we can to resist our impulse and to patiently reflect before we respond.

What do you think?