# 420: BOOK OF THE WEEK — “Every Good Endeavor”
Story behind the Book Choice
Actually, there is no need to write anything in this section this time, is there? Work is the one and only driver behind this blog. I seem to be obsessed with questions of work and purpose — one’s “calling.” It is little wonder that I now dive into the Theology of Work — if that even exists. The concept does exist but to be honest, I expected more from this book. But the fact that I was not blown away by it probably is not rooted in the fact that the book is bad or not comprehensive. Maybe I have just been thinking about the topic for so long that hardly anything can surprise me anymore — including a theological perspective.
Timothy Keller seems to be known as an expert on the topic. He talks quite a bit about Redeemer Church, his spiritual home, and the practices there. I have to say, I am not sure if this adds much to the insights he shares. Again, maybe I simply had too many expectations. I think, the biggest expectation I had was to learn more about how exactly the Bible talks about work in all its facets. And that is something which I missed a little bit in the book. But maybe I just did not pay close attention to the quotations from the Gospel and their interpretation. Whatever the reason, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading the book because it does cover the concept of “work” in all its complexity and it gives plenty of specific entry points into looking at your own work from a new perspective.
I just know that this is not going to help me right now.
1. From Management to Church
A couple of weeks ago, I picked up a church manager from the gate at the airport. We had a fascinating conversation and he was just “my kind of guy.” What I mean is that he was so talkative and open and full of energy and verve but at the same time very goal-driven and smart. Well, all this sounds judgmental and in a way it is. What I want to say is just, as it turned out, he had never worked as a minister or church official but has been managing in the church in Asia for many decades. This was the moment when I realized how much management is needed in church organizations.
I got to think of this experience when starting to read this Foreword in the book. It is really mind-blowing to see how grace (wherever you think that comes from) allows you to find your professional path or calling, sometimes in places where you would never have seen yourself before. In this case, the one of Katherine Leary Alsdorf, this switch did happen from business to church. The point is, however, there are also so many “wrong” signals you get or interpret in a wrong way that for a long time, you have no idea where/what your calling might be.
That is me again.
Welcome to the club.
Lost, not found yet.
2. Losing Identity
This story about losing your identity in work is something that people who are passionate about their work — about the place of work in their lives — might not even bother about. Why care if your identity is work? Yes, then people will walk up to you and say that you will never regret not having worked enough when you die. This also appears in the book. What you will miss is only one thing: Not having loved “enough” or not having received “enough” love. In the “helping” professions mentioned above, there is a fine line between the two, obviously. You are loved back by the people you help. And that gets you addicted — at least it can.
I do think, that is the danger for people who only have work as the source of love. If there is no person at all to love them. Still, it is possible to fully feel love in your job without having some helper’s syndrome depression. It is just very complicated and very simple at the same time. The conclusion is that you should be happy with every “Godly duty” — every “good endeavor” — you are being confronted with and filling it with love. That is easier said than done. But I definitely know that you can give love in any situation you are in. It is just a matter of being loved by the job itself.
And that is the real trouble of finding your SELF…
3. Real Self
If we say that the work itself, the activity, not the people, needs to be the sole source of gratification and if that activity is inherently linked to people, then there is this double-bind. You cannot free yourself of the response, the feedback and (lack) of appreciation, from the people. This is also where the narcissistic nerve kicks in. We are all narcissists in some way. And in case people are now wondering at which point of this blog entry I start talking about Christianity: If there is one thing in which Christianity helps — you can work on your narcissistic ego. As soon you decide to work for something or someone higher than yourself, that will heal you from working for the appreciation or affirmation of other people.
Still, it is a life-long struggle to adhere to this.
You fall into old patterns.
And you struggle with God.
I am not making much sense today.
That is ok.
We are not perfect.
We are humans.
We struggle until we die.
Reflection Questions
1) Do you think that pastors are managers? In how far/not?
2) Were you ever at risk of losing your identity in your work?
3) If you are really honest with yourself — how much of your work are you doing in order to get people’s (e.g., client, colleague, boss) approval? How do you think about this?