Ecclesiastes

12/6/10...Almost a month has flown by since my last blog entry regarding the Toil. Since August, I have had to prepare for 5 different report out sessions to all levels of the organization from VP's to the President to the Owner to all the Plant Manager's. It has been stressful in the regard that I feel constantly under pressure to help those who are reporting out. Bottom line is everyone walked away with positive comments and why shouldn't they. When they see our people standing up and reporting out on the positive improvements they made not only in their area but in the community and each others lives, one can only walk away with a sense of ... not sure which word to use here. Peace, accomplishment, satisfaction...beats me which word to use.

I suppose I should feel great regarding the success of getting our people more engaged in where they work. Many people from the outside who have visited have remarked how different the atmosphere seems to be. Since I was not here before this past February, I really don't know how to compare.

However, the word I would now use is "hollow." At the end of the day what we have accomplished is better metrics, more satisfied employees (although are they), and a better working atmosphere. But where is God in all this? That is why it is hollow to me. We are so focused on the Toil to get things done that we miss this side and that's why I believe all is hollow under the sun. Where is the glory in God to this? If we called ourselves a church and made syrup bags, how would our focus look different. Church is supposed to be a community of believers getting together to worship God, grow spiritually, and figure out how we can give of ourselves to others. Can church be a manufacturing plant if that plant is privately owned? Can we take breaks each day and worship God or study together or figure out how to do something good in someone's life THAT day, not the next day? Or do we just make 8 and hit the gate.

We may achieve accodalades at work but in the end what does it really matter. We are serving the world instead of God. Who cares which metrics improve or if our employee opinion survey numbers go up? Seriously.