 What are you doing to prepare for the opportunity and challenges of each workday? Ok, you know what your job description entails. However, opportunities and challenges are not necessarily a part of your job description but rather are a by-product of it. It goes something like this: My doing a normal job means I work in order that flights will arrive on time, or there will be no problems with passengers or with co-workers. These kinds of conditions only require us to use the skills we already were trained to do. However, most opportunities and challenges come when there is an obstruction to what is normal. We call this abnormal, and it requires us to use, in addition to our work skills, abilities to help us overcome abnormal situations. So how can you be prepared?
Pre-flight is a time set aside to look ahead and coordinate ourselves with others in our work together. It is a time to review the most basic procedure needed in carrying out our work. There is a spiritual pre-flight attitude that Christians need when they go to work each day. First, they need to coordinate themselves with their chief of operations. No, this is not your airline operational centre. It is the Lord of the universe, the Lord of the workplace. This coordination means I understand that I do my work whole heartily, first of all, as unto the Lord. This pre-flight happens when you spend personal time with the Lord before going to work. This is a time when you read God’s Word or pray specifically about your workday. It is also a time when you acknowledge your need for God’s strength, peace, and wisdom for what lies ahead. A second pre-flight preparation is our consciously choosing to connect with other Christians at work, during break times or while on layovers. This cannot be a general vague connection. It should demonstrate Christ working harmoniously in us in the workplace. The airline industry as a whole is heavily dependent on the coordination of its work force and equipment. There is a parallel here, so also is the witness of reality of the church of Jesus Christ out in the world. When its presence has coordination, it brings a weighty testimony to the world around us. That is why when Christians show their connection to one another, it is a visual testimony that there is one head of the operations. Lastly, our spiritual pre-flight coordination should involve our regularly learning God’s instructions on how to think and act as Christians in the workplace. Going to work requires more than our just performing our job description, it involves our showing the love, patience, and kindness of our Lord as we do our job. Are you prepared for the added opportunities and challenges in your work? Remember to check in with the Chief of operations. Courtesy of FCAP |
