I’ve just had to tell someone her job has been eliminated. It just doesn’t seem fair.
The thing is, we’re finding it harder and harder to make payroll, and we’re running out of ways to raise cash. There are things down the road, but increasingly the risk is they won’t come soon enough. But the person I just laid off has been loyal, hard-working, has been paid less than her market value, and has accomplished a lot for us. How can laying her off be right?
She is angry and hurt. This is particularly true since someone less experienced than her was retained in the company and is taking over both people’s responsibilities. I’d be angry and hurt too.
I have all sorts of rationale for the decision, including that the person remaining is best fitted for what we need going forward. After all, isn’t a big part of management matching the strengths of team members to the needs of the organization they’re serving? But it’s hard to ignore what the other person has done over the past few years for the company. (I can relate to her feelings too, because it happened to me a few years ago). I can rationalize too that she is so well-qualified, that finding another job should be easier for her than just about anyone else in the company.
What does justice have to say about this? Fairness isn’t really the point – if we got what was fair, none of us would be here in the first place. But justice – or righteousness, which I define as “doing what God would do” – is another matter. It isn’t a simple decision. If I hadn’t done this, we might have ended up missing a payroll altogether, then another, then ultimately collapsing. Several people would have been out of work, including sole bread-winners and immigrants dependent upon their employment with us to keep their legal status.
I wish the Bible was a handbook on justice. It provides some principles, but most of all it provides the character of the God whose righteousness is to be followed. What would this righteous God do? I am honestly not sure. All I can do is try to balance the needs of the company and all its constituents (investors, borrowers, clients, employees and owner) and the personal and family impacts of a lay-off. I think this was the right decision. I have peace about it after prayer, but seeing the pain and hurt is still really hard. Management sucks sometimes!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Guest Blogger Sara Goetz – Business Commitment
For a while now I’ve been telling everyone that Sara Goetz Photography is a venture of faith first, and a business second.
I’ll just pause here for a second and wait for the spiritual applause to die down. At least, spiritual applause is what I always sort of expected when I uttered those words.
I felt so proud of myself, as if I had committed to something so super spiritual, I was bound to have won the favor of God. I mean, wouldn’t God willingly and happily bless that kind of attitude? I was proud of myself for the seemingly huge steps of obedience it took to embrace that calling.
But that pride has dissolved into humility.
This weekend He uttered – no – He whispered (which is very different) something new in my ear that stopped me in my tracks. “What if it isn’t your business that is a venture of faith? What if what I really want is for your whole life to be a venture of faith. Do you think you could do that?”
Oh boy.
The reality of what God was asking hit me in the face the way a baseball slaps the glove of a catcher. And I’ve been a Christian for like, my WHOLE LIFE. It took my breath away. And my pride.
You see, when God originally talked to me about a “venture of faith” I thought he was talking about my business. But God is quickly showing me it’s about my life. As a follower of Christ, “Ventures of Faith” are not reserved for some of the endeavors in my life. No, no, no. Instead, it has to be that my life IS a venture of faith. Photography is a venture of faith. But so is my marriage, my motherhood, my friendships, - all of my endeavors and relationships. If I can separate the things in my life that are ventures of faith from the things that aren’t, I’ve missed my calling. I’ve missed the boat.
And I desperately don’t want to miss the boat. I want to be on that one when it sails away.
When I meet Jesus I want to hear Him say, (And I scripted this out for Him as a little joke between Him and me…), “You did it, Sara. You didn’t miss a thing I had for you to do or a blessing I was ready to give. You did it right, and you made me proud. Come on, let’s check this place out! It’s amazing…”
And if I really want to hear those words, I’m realizing, I need to start viewing EVERYTHING as a venture of faith. I need to understand that there is nothing in my life that can or should exist outside of the umbrella of faith.
I’ll just pause here for a second and wait for the spiritual applause to die down. At least, spiritual applause is what I always sort of expected when I uttered those words.
I felt so proud of myself, as if I had committed to something so super spiritual, I was bound to have won the favor of God. I mean, wouldn’t God willingly and happily bless that kind of attitude? I was proud of myself for the seemingly huge steps of obedience it took to embrace that calling.
But that pride has dissolved into humility.
This weekend He uttered – no – He whispered (which is very different) something new in my ear that stopped me in my tracks. “What if it isn’t your business that is a venture of faith? What if what I really want is for your whole life to be a venture of faith. Do you think you could do that?”
Oh boy.
The reality of what God was asking hit me in the face the way a baseball slaps the glove of a catcher. And I’ve been a Christian for like, my WHOLE LIFE. It took my breath away. And my pride.
You see, when God originally talked to me about a “venture of faith” I thought he was talking about my business. But God is quickly showing me it’s about my life. As a follower of Christ, “Ventures of Faith” are not reserved for some of the endeavors in my life. No, no, no. Instead, it has to be that my life IS a venture of faith. Photography is a venture of faith. But so is my marriage, my motherhood, my friendships, - all of my endeavors and relationships. If I can separate the things in my life that are ventures of faith from the things that aren’t, I’ve missed my calling. I’ve missed the boat.
And I desperately don’t want to miss the boat. I want to be on that one when it sails away.
When I meet Jesus I want to hear Him say, (And I scripted this out for Him as a little joke between Him and me…), “You did it, Sara. You didn’t miss a thing I had for you to do or a blessing I was ready to give. You did it right, and you made me proud. Come on, let’s check this place out! It’s amazing…”
And if I really want to hear those words, I’m realizing, I need to start viewing EVERYTHING as a venture of faith. I need to understand that there is nothing in my life that can or should exist outside of the umbrella of faith.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Delegation @ Work in God’s Image
According to Genesis 1, God made humans in his own image. If we bear God’s image, how best can we carry that image to the workplace? How about delegation?
Let’s face it, God not only could have done everything Himself but by any standards of success should have done (the ultimate application of “if you want something done …”). However He chose not to. Why? I’m not entirely sure, but clearly it has something to do with how much He loves us. Despite our constant and repetitive failures, He has persevered with us. Despite the rebellion and complaints and self-centeredness of His people, He has continued to show us grace.
But He also knows that, on our own, we simply aren’t going to get it done (“it” in this case being the restoration and re-establishment of His New Creation, His Kingdom). So not only did He call us to this seemingly impossible task, but He encouraged us, equipped us, restored us, and was unbelievably patient with us.
Those of us who are managers or supervisors, or members of any kind of team, can model this extraordinarily gracious attribute of God in the way we delegate. Delegation in the workplace has many purposes, including sharing of workload, leveraging the gifts of a team, and developing members of a team. It is sometimes done for other, less constructive reasons (for example dumping unwanted work on others, pushing off responsibility, or exercising power). So a few thoughts on how we delegate:
Let’s face it, God not only could have done everything Himself but by any standards of success should have done (the ultimate application of “if you want something done …”). However He chose not to. Why? I’m not entirely sure, but clearly it has something to do with how much He loves us. Despite our constant and repetitive failures, He has persevered with us. Despite the rebellion and complaints and self-centeredness of His people, He has continued to show us grace.
But He also knows that, on our own, we simply aren’t going to get it done (“it” in this case being the restoration and re-establishment of His New Creation, His Kingdom). So not only did He call us to this seemingly impossible task, but He encouraged us, equipped us, restored us, and was unbelievably patient with us.
Those of us who are managers or supervisors, or members of any kind of team, can model this extraordinarily gracious attribute of God in the way we delegate. Delegation in the workplace has many purposes, including sharing of workload, leveraging the gifts of a team, and developing members of a team. It is sometimes done for other, less constructive reasons (for example dumping unwanted work on others, pushing off responsibility, or exercising power). So a few thoughts on how we delegate:
- Consider our motivation for delegation (or for not delegating). Are we seeking the best for the rest of the team? For the company? For the person to whom we’re delegating?
- Are we delegating tasks that, while potentially a stretch for the delegate, are within their grasp and will lead to long-term growth?
- Are we encouraging others to whom we delegate, emphasizing progress made in learning and growth, and sharing responsibility for mistakes and failures?
- Are we providing the tools, training and support necessary for others to learn and carry out the delegated tasks and responsibilities?
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Guest Blogger Sara Goetz – Charging For Ministry?
How can it be ministry if you charge?
I’ve realized since we started Sara Goetz Photography that I erroneously have believed that you can’t be doing ministry if you are charging money.
How could anything that charges clients/customers a solid amount of money have a place in God’s kingdom. After all, if we want to serve people we shouldn’t charge them, right?
God is showing me exactly why it is important for me to run my business as a business – with the intent of making money – instead of running it as a charity. I am honoring God through my business by not giving away my services. Here’s why:
I’ve realized since we started Sara Goetz Photography that I erroneously have believed that you can’t be doing ministry if you are charging money.
How could anything that charges clients/customers a solid amount of money have a place in God’s kingdom. After all, if we want to serve people we shouldn’t charge them, right?
God is showing me exactly why it is important for me to run my business as a business – with the intent of making money – instead of running it as a charity. I am honoring God through my business by not giving away my services. Here’s why:
- By associating a solid price with my services I can attract the people who really want my services and are willing to invest. We have a better working relationship and they are happier at the end of our transaction because we were a good fit for each other. That was evident by the fact that they were willing to pay me what I believe my services are worth.
- By associating a solid price point with my services, when I do offer my services gratis I am actually giving them something incredibly valuable. The blessing of receiving and giving the gift of service is automatically higher. I can bless them with premium service & products because I have a solid business that allows me to serve.The money my business earns is allowing my children to be educated in a Christian school – something we feel God is calling us to do. Running our business as a business: charging good money for a quality service, is opening the doors for us to be obedient.
- I cannot expect my industry to simply “gift” me the equipment, training, and experiences I need to improve my craft and business. If I gave away my services I could never improve and would eventually my skills would offer God and His Kingdom very little.
Guest Blogger Sara Goetz – Charging For Ministry?
How can it be ministry if you charge?
I’ve realized since we started Sara Goetz Photography that I erroneously have believed that you can’t be doing ministry if you are charging money.
How could anything that charges clients/customers a solid amount of money have a place in God’s kingdom. After all, if we want to serve people we shouldn’t charge them, right?
God is showing me exactly why it is important for me to run my business as a business – with the intent of making money – instead of running it as a charity. I am honoring God through my business by not giving away my services. Here’s why:
By associating a solid price with my services I can attract the people who really want my services and are willing to invest. We have a better working relationship and they are happier at the end of our transaction because we were a good fit for each other. That was evident by the fact that they were willing to pay me what I believe my services are worth.
By associating a solid price point with my services, when I do offer my services gratis I am actually giving them something incredibly valuable. The blessing of receiving and giving the gift of service is automatically higher. I can bless them with premium service & products because I have a solid business that allows me to serve.The money my business earns is allowing my children to be educated in a Christian school – something we feel God is calling us to do. Running our business as a business: charging good money for a quality service, is opening the doors for us to be obedient.
I cannot expect my industry to simply “gift” me the equipment, training, and experiences I need to improve my craft and business. If I gave away my services I could never improve and would eventually my skills would offer God and His Kingdom very little.
I am learning that business and faith does not have to equal giving away your services/product. I can honor God and make money.
I’ve realized since we started Sara Goetz Photography that I erroneously have believed that you can’t be doing ministry if you are charging money.
How could anything that charges clients/customers a solid amount of money have a place in God’s kingdom. After all, if we want to serve people we shouldn’t charge them, right?
God is showing me exactly why it is important for me to run my business as a business – with the intent of making money – instead of running it as a charity. I am honoring God through my business by not giving away my services. Here’s why:
By associating a solid price with my services I can attract the people who really want my services and are willing to invest. We have a better working relationship and they are happier at the end of our transaction because we were a good fit for each other. That was evident by the fact that they were willing to pay me what I believe my services are worth.
By associating a solid price point with my services, when I do offer my services gratis I am actually giving them something incredibly valuable. The blessing of receiving and giving the gift of service is automatically higher. I can bless them with premium service & products because I have a solid business that allows me to serve.The money my business earns is allowing my children to be educated in a Christian school – something we feel God is calling us to do. Running our business as a business: charging good money for a quality service, is opening the doors for us to be obedient.
I cannot expect my industry to simply “gift” me the equipment, training, and experiences I need to improve my craft and business. If I gave away my services I could never improve and would eventually my skills would offer God and His Kingdom very little.
I am learning that business and faith does not have to equal giving away your services/product. I can honor God and make money.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Love @ Work Is Kind
Have you noticed how much the attributes of love in 1 Corinthians 13 overlap with the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Turns out that’s really good news!
Good news why? Because I don’t know about you but I find it pretty hard to be patient, kind and all the rest. And because the fruit of the Spirit is what it says it is – not something I drum up by being extra-specially nice, but something that the Holy Spirit exhibits through me if I can only set my ego aside.
I am not by nature a kind person. Does that mean I don’t naturally love others. Actually in the way the New Testament uses the word, yes it probably does – but then that’s true for all of us. Jesus is the only truly, naturally, unconditionally kind person who ever lived. But by being filled with His Spirit, we can show that same kindness. Sometimes I catch myself thinking kind thoughts or doing kind things pretty much despite myself! And I thank God for having made His home in me!
So this kindness thing – how does it work at work? When I see other people around me – be they colleagues, employees, lawyers or investors – if I’m in tune with what the Holy Spirit is seeing, I see people with needs, including the need to be appreciated, to be helped, encouraged, comforted or simply listened to. More and more as I pray for them, I do see them as God does (to a very limited extent of course) and I see their needs and love them. Jesus was always doing that – seeing people’s needs and loving them. The rich young ruler, for example (Mark 10:21 says it explicitly), or the woman taken in adultery, or the Samaritan woman, or Levi. In each case he showed great kindness – understanding, being gentle even while in each case asking repentance of them.
Kindness doesn’t sweep bad things under the carpet, or hold back from speaking truth. On the contrary truth is an essential part of kindness. So when I give a performance review to an employee I try to speak truth with kindness. By praying for the person beforehand, seeking to understand why some things are not working too well, and seeing them in some way as God sees them, I find myself offering kindness and thus allowing them to hear what needs to be said. That’s just one example of course – opportunities for kindness abound in the workplace and I know I miss most of them. I just pray that I will become better at seeing them and being kind – ultimately this is an aspect of love that the world, and especially perhaps our workplace, desperately needs.
One last thought. There was a fad a few years ago for committing “random acts of kindness”. Nice though this was, we’re talking about something different I think. 1 Corinthians 13:4 speaks of kindness as an attribute of love, not something that can be randomly exhibited. Love defines a relationship much more than a casual encounter, and kindness is a part of that relationship. So may there be nothing random about your acts of kindness – instead may God’s love be evident!
Good news why? Because I don’t know about you but I find it pretty hard to be patient, kind and all the rest. And because the fruit of the Spirit is what it says it is – not something I drum up by being extra-specially nice, but something that the Holy Spirit exhibits through me if I can only set my ego aside.
I am not by nature a kind person. Does that mean I don’t naturally love others. Actually in the way the New Testament uses the word, yes it probably does – but then that’s true for all of us. Jesus is the only truly, naturally, unconditionally kind person who ever lived. But by being filled with His Spirit, we can show that same kindness. Sometimes I catch myself thinking kind thoughts or doing kind things pretty much despite myself! And I thank God for having made His home in me!
So this kindness thing – how does it work at work? When I see other people around me – be they colleagues, employees, lawyers or investors – if I’m in tune with what the Holy Spirit is seeing, I see people with needs, including the need to be appreciated, to be helped, encouraged, comforted or simply listened to. More and more as I pray for them, I do see them as God does (to a very limited extent of course) and I see their needs and love them. Jesus was always doing that – seeing people’s needs and loving them. The rich young ruler, for example (Mark 10:21 says it explicitly), or the woman taken in adultery, or the Samaritan woman, or Levi. In each case he showed great kindness – understanding, being gentle even while in each case asking repentance of them.
Kindness doesn’t sweep bad things under the carpet, or hold back from speaking truth. On the contrary truth is an essential part of kindness. So when I give a performance review to an employee I try to speak truth with kindness. By praying for the person beforehand, seeking to understand why some things are not working too well, and seeing them in some way as God sees them, I find myself offering kindness and thus allowing them to hear what needs to be said. That’s just one example of course – opportunities for kindness abound in the workplace and I know I miss most of them. I just pray that I will become better at seeing them and being kind – ultimately this is an aspect of love that the world, and especially perhaps our workplace, desperately needs.
One last thought. There was a fad a few years ago for committing “random acts of kindness”. Nice though this was, we’re talking about something different I think. 1 Corinthians 13:4 speaks of kindness as an attribute of love, not something that can be randomly exhibited. Love defines a relationship much more than a casual encounter, and kindness is a part of that relationship. So may there be nothing random about your acts of kindness – instead may God’s love be evident!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Theology @ Work - Fulfillment
OK so we’re called to partner with God in the workplace, as a part of the building of His Kingdom. But where is that all going? What’s the point of it all?
I’m almost at the end of this little blog post series on the theology of work as it impacts our daily work calling. We’re privileged to be a part of God’s kingdom-building vision, created and equipped by Him, called and redeemed by Him, bearers of His image and temples of His Spirit. But while we are thrilled by this honor and inspired by this purpose, there are certainly times when we look at the pain and suffering, the struggle and stress, the sin and evil around us, and we have to ask “when does it all end?” If we’re honest, there are days when all of us question God and ask Him if He is really sovereign, if He is really in control? And if He is, why doesn’t He just wrap up the whole experiment and start again?
However, the whole of Scripture looks forward to a fulfillment of God’s vision, of His dream, in which Creation is not just restored to its original pristine Eden condition, but is revealed in all its glorious potential. This vision is hinted at in Genesis, uncovered in God’s chosen people (blessed to be a blessing to all nations as in Genesis 12:1), promised in the prophets (most fully in the last couple of chapters of Isaiah) and offered as the ultimate hope for a suffering church in Revelation 21 and 22.
Our daily work is a part of God’s progressing of His Kingdom toward that ultimate fulfillment. Reformed theologians like to talk of the Kingdom as being “already now, but not yet” – that is we are living in the midst of it even while it is still in formation and what it will ultimately be has yet to be fully seen. This is our joy! We work for justice today, because the Kingdom in fulfillment will have no injustice – simply the perfect justice of a holy and merciful God (Revelation 21:7-8). We work today for healing because in the Kingdom’s ultimate state there will be “no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4b). We offer hope to all our colleagues because “the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 21:3-4a).
This is what we are made for. This is why we work. This is what God has equipped us for, called us to, and inspired (breathed His Spirit into) us for. Every relationship, every project, every contract, every keystroke, every brick laid, every blade of grass grown – all are contributions to the ultimate Kingdom of all kingdoms – the Kingdom of God. Wow!
I’m almost at the end of this little blog post series on the theology of work as it impacts our daily work calling. We’re privileged to be a part of God’s kingdom-building vision, created and equipped by Him, called and redeemed by Him, bearers of His image and temples of His Spirit. But while we are thrilled by this honor and inspired by this purpose, there are certainly times when we look at the pain and suffering, the struggle and stress, the sin and evil around us, and we have to ask “when does it all end?” If we’re honest, there are days when all of us question God and ask Him if He is really sovereign, if He is really in control? And if He is, why doesn’t He just wrap up the whole experiment and start again?
However, the whole of Scripture looks forward to a fulfillment of God’s vision, of His dream, in which Creation is not just restored to its original pristine Eden condition, but is revealed in all its glorious potential. This vision is hinted at in Genesis, uncovered in God’s chosen people (blessed to be a blessing to all nations as in Genesis 12:1), promised in the prophets (most fully in the last couple of chapters of Isaiah) and offered as the ultimate hope for a suffering church in Revelation 21 and 22.
Our daily work is a part of God’s progressing of His Kingdom toward that ultimate fulfillment. Reformed theologians like to talk of the Kingdom as being “already now, but not yet” – that is we are living in the midst of it even while it is still in formation and what it will ultimately be has yet to be fully seen. This is our joy! We work for justice today, because the Kingdom in fulfillment will have no injustice – simply the perfect justice of a holy and merciful God (Revelation 21:7-8). We work today for healing because in the Kingdom’s ultimate state there will be “no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4b). We offer hope to all our colleagues because “the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 21:3-4a).
This is what we are made for. This is why we work. This is what God has equipped us for, called us to, and inspired (breathed His Spirit into) us for. Every relationship, every project, every contract, every keystroke, every brick laid, every blade of grass grown – all are contributions to the ultimate Kingdom of all kingdoms – the Kingdom of God. Wow!
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