Holy Work...

Often times I run into people that I used to work with at Shaw. Since I spent almost 14 years there, working in seven different plants/locations I racked up a lot of good friends, and had an amazing time. In all honesty the most frequent statement is, "I bet you're glad you got out of there." I don't think people really hate it, I think they are just assuming that my work in ministry now is just so much more fulfilling and exciting.

My response to them is always the same: I absolutely LOVED working for Shaw. Don't get me wrong, working at Rock Bridge is the fulfillment of my heart's dream. Every time I interviewed for a new position within Shaw the question would come out, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Every time I responded that I hoped to be in full time ministry. So working at Rock Bridge is my little boy God-put-it-in-my-heart dream come true.

But I also loved being in the secular work place. I realized over time how much an impact God could have on people's lives there. I saw Christians in the work place coming in every day, giving everything they had to work hard, make good product, love their co-workers, and go home and love their families and their communities. I saw "creelers" and lift truck drivers with simple but profound faith that would pray and seek God. I met mechanics that ended up being like second fathers to me, encouraging my faith. I worked with supervisors who became my closest friends! One took me to the craziest pentecostal healing service I've ever been to in my life! The "healer" ended up being on 60 Minutes as a fraud! I still laugh about that night!

I've worked with Customer Service agents, Sales VP's, from top to bottom who tried to act fairly, but mercifully, to treat their customers right and treat their fellow employees well. Many, many days I saw Jesus in the work place. I was profoundly pastored and affected by the Quality Manager of one plant where I worked.

I came to realize as a manager, with people I was responsible for leading, that God cared very deeply about my responsibility and he cared very deeply about how I treated people. Many times He rebuked me when my own ego or selfishness hurt others. The weight of the responsibility of leadership is huge and heavy when I carry it outside of the Holy Spirit. But when I carry it with Him, walking in absolute obedience to Him, I saw improved morale, better results, miracles in our midst, and Jesus honored gloriously. I saw many people come to know Jesus because of the faithful and steady encouragement of a co-worker.

I believe the workplace can be hallowed ground, full of the power of God. God's first command to Adam in Genesis was to "be fruitful... and fill the earth and subdue it." Basically, get out there and make the world a better place because of your presence. Most people will never work in a church, but every Christian on the face of the earth is called to full-time ministry. The question is will they see that call and pursue it, or waste it and let God moments pass them by....