Blog - Reflecting on Our Work

Reflecting on Our Work

Sep 3

Written by: ctaylor
9/3/2009 4:11 PM

Some times I wonder how much of a difference I’m making with my life and through my work. I don’t know if that thought ever crosses your mind but it crosses mine from time to time.

Reflecting on Our "Work"

Some times I wonder how much of a difference I’m making with my life and through my work. I don’t know if that thought ever crosses your mind but it crosses mine from time to time.

While in that reflective place the other day, I was reading “Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture” by Michael Frost, and moment of insight and encouragement. A simple truth struck me and was exactly what I needed to hear during my time of wondering.

The chapter was speaking of how to view our work. In a nutshell, Frost suggests that our “primary motivation as exiles is to do our work as an expression of our relationship with God.” That thought was good but what sealed the deal in my heart and mind was a quote by Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard (p. 200).

“What is your occupation in life? I do not ask inquisitively about whether it is great or mean, whether you are a king or a labourer. I do not ask, after the fashion of business, whether you earn a great deal of money or are building up great prestige for yourself. The crowd enquires and talks of these things. But whether your occupation is great or mean, is it of such a kind that you dare think of it with the responsibility of eternity?”

So my choice today is to see this occupation to which God has called me as a place "with the responsibility of eternity." An occupation that includes coaching, assisting churches in transition, training leaders, encouraging people, and communicating ideas. An occupation that very much lived as a faith journey but one where I can make the choice and dare to think of what I'm doing with the responsibility of eternity!

My encouragement to you is that you will see, with fresh eyes, your work whether it be great or small, local or global, unseen or noticed by many, as something you are doing with the responsibility of eternity! For when you and I do what we do as an expression of our relationship with God, we are making a difference!

Take Action

1. Take 15 minutes some time in the next couple of days and reflect on the words of Kierkegaard and see what shows up.

2. Put in place a structure of some kind that will remind you daily that what you do matters and is being done as an expression of your relationship with God. Example: Put a picture on your desktop that reflects of your relationship with your Heavenly Father.

Note: I highly recommend the book “Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture” by Michael Frost. There are plenty of excellent books available on being "Missional" but my comment on this book is simply that it is a balanced, challenging and refreshing read.

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2 comment(s) so far...

Re: Reflecting on Our Work

I think in these days we are trying to (re)define what ministry is about. For too long we have thought ministry (and therefore meaning) was mostly to be found in a professional (clergy) way. With the emphasis on rediscovering mission in a post Christian culture we are rediscovering how to do ministry "on the go". As we are going input work let us be making disciples!

By Paul J Loewen on 9/4/2009 2:48 PM

Re: Reflecting on Our Work

Great post Cam. I often wonder if I am making a difference, not as a professional clergy (a hat which I have worn uncomfortably most of my life) but as a person, as a follower of the Way. I ask God to show me from time to time if I am making a difference, just enough to keep me going but not enough to get my pride going. When I really hit a low point I have to swallow I Coriinthians 15:58 whole and try to digest it again. Good eating!

By Gerry on 9/21/2009 8:57 PM

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