Nancy — I think you put your finger on it — as we measure worth and value in the workplace, our worth is always in question because it’s always determined by people just as flawed as ourselves. Our worth in God’s eyes is a different story — we have intrinsic value and worth (1) because we’re all made in His image and (2) because He sent His son to die for us. You don’t send your son to die for what’s worthless. Thanks for commenting.

as a person that has done things that i was paid money for doing, and things that i have done that were different reasons, i often ask myself what a job is, and what work is. when i left my job at tektronics as an illustrator, i was met with a feeling that i had given up the power of money. i had to realize that my worth to other people is what ever they regard or believe is worthwhile.
the worth of myself to me is always in question, as i can not help but compare myself to others. however, as i grow in my faith in Jesus, i am learning that to learn more about myself and my worth, i focus on Jesus instead of myself or others. if i look at Love instead of judgment and comparison, i am not bound by the ego that is not ever satisified. i am finding a power that is greater than one i can find anywhere else.

it feels good to be in a place where people show appreciation, there is pay, it is fun, makes us happy, we get paid, or we get along with the people. what ever it is we do, these things are nice. but, i find that life also has struggle no matter what you do or where you are, there is no perfect situation. a lot of us expect this, we expect the doctor to be able to fix us, we expect to be treated well, we expect to have fun, to be happy, to live long and healthy lives. we expect, we expect, we expect…more and more. we become like children with a whole room full of toys we don’t play with yet, looking for more.

we look for Love, and do not know what Love is.
we don’t know where to find it or how to give it.
lost and alone, searching, wanting, longing for Love.
looking at our selves, others, money, things, and expecting to find it there. the longing for Love, to know what it is, to receive it and to give it. and that my friend can only be found in one place, in one way, through One Savior, Christ Jesus the Lord, our way back home to our Creator, our God, Love.

I recently read that long Atlantic article titled “What Makes Us Happy?” The article, by Joshua Wolf Shenk, looks at the results to date of a Harvard study, directed by George Vaillant, that began tracking 268 men decades ago. A fascinating piece documenting both the “shimmering successes” and “darker hues” of mental crises, with the need for love, work, and “psychological adaptation” seemingly paramount. Reading it, I kept wondering about the role of spiritual fulfillment, of faith, in these men’s lives. Perhaps it would be interesting to contrast de Botton’s story-telling and findings with those of Vaillant?

That paragraph mentioning HR departments rings so true. For more than 24 years I worked as a writer and editor for a firm that published everything imaginable for HR. I was struck by how the terminology kept changing (e.g., “human capital”!) with the reorientation of the function as it struggled to be “of value” (more than a “cost center”) to the organization, of how, too often, the “assets” were treated with too little commonsense and understanding of human need.

I had planned an interview on religion and faith in the workplace, a trend that had been developing for some time. Life intervened and I retired from the company before doing it. This essay has me thinking again about fulfillment and the meaning of work and to what we turn when work for many now is simply the thread to hold onto.