In June of this year I headed back into the 9 to 5 workforce. I had been home caring for my two small children for the 5 years preceding that. Granted, I held a few small jobs here and there, but oddly enough I worked alone in all of those positions. This was the first time in 5 years that I was going to be working alongside other people. I was headed into the wonderful world of manufacturing. Before children, and faith, I worked in a factory and I knew how dark those places could be. A place filled with real people, with real problems who were so very far from God. I was overjoyed to be heading back there again, armed with my faith and optimism. I was going to change the world.
By June of 2018 my family and I will be settling into our
new home in North Carolina. We will start new jobs, new schools and learn new
neighborhoods. Here is where my “world changing” becomes mission critical. My
future workplace could house some of our new congregants. With this in mind, I’ve
been in practice mode at my current job; asking myself if I have been
exemplifying Christ at my workplace. Have I been showing my coworkers what it
means to be a Christian? Does my behavior make them curious about what I have?
Would they be interested in attending church with me or learning about Jesus?
Have I been the right kind of witness?
Last week was my final week at that job. I started a new
assignment at our sister company across town. It is likely that I will never
see some of the people I’ve worked so closely with for the past 6 months again.
I’ve been reflecting on my time there and I wonder… did I change the world?
Well, no. I didn’t change the world, but I did plant seeds. I worked closely
with an unchurched man who now watches our sermons online. I’ve had the “why
did you start going to church” conversation with another person (intrigue. I’ll
take it). I’ve had in-depth
conversations about Christianity and preached about how paramount
fellowship and community are. Most importantly, I’ve showed compassion, grace
and love to the people I work with. I see people who used to wander around with
slouched shoulders now waving enthusiastically with big smiles. I’ve learned
that happiness is contagious and that if you show contentment at your workplace
it will begin to spread and people will wonder why.
I didn’t change the whole world in 6 months, but I had an
impact on my tiny corner of it. This “practice run” was so transformative. Not
only for those around me, but for myself as well. As an introvert, I knew socializing
would be difficult. Knowing that I would be leaving actually made this easier.
If I made a fool of myself, I’d move away and they’d never see me again. Ha.
Having the safety of moving in my pocket gave me the courage and ambition to
give it all a try. I invited someone to church. They never showed, but guess
what? It wasn’t hard at all! I’ve gain confidence and strengthen my faith
during my time at that job. I’m really going to miss everyone there, but I have
been nominated to birth hope into another tiny corner. God has gifted me
another practice assignment; My life will be marked by availability not
apprehension. I will take what I’ve learned from my first 6 months and improve
upon it for my next 6 months. By the time I get to North Carolina I’ll be
baptizing people at work! Ok, Kidding, but I’ll be much more equipped to build
relationships and share the good news.
