April 14, 2014

Why Do You Do

Why do I do what I do?

One day while Mother Theresa was changing the dressing on a man’s wound, another man watching said, “I wouldn’t do your job for all the money in the world.” She replied, “Mister, neither would I.” So ask yourself, “Why do I do what I do?” Many people are trying to pursue other jobs, but perhaps all they need is to change the reason or remind themselves why they are performing their present one. One day a man came to me, saying he needed to lose weight, had tried every option, but was unsuccessful. Then, his daughter’s kidney failed. His family had searched the country for a transplant match, until finally, the doctors found one, him! But the doctors said, “We will not take your kidney and place it in your daughter until you lose weight.” In six months the man lost 101 pounds.  Most people who diet forget the reason they are dieting; the reward is to achieve health for themselves and their family. In fact, most people gain weight on a diet because, when they weigh in and find that they have lost weight, they celebrate by overeating. They do not keep the “why” in front of them. Ask yourself, “how can I take this job and be a blessing to others?” How can I serve and help someone keep from an unhealthy, unfortunate and uncomfortable consequence down the road? How can I with this job be my brother’s or my sister’s keeper? When you arrange your job around service, the higher values connect with service, and you will experience higher value as well. You may even find yourself doing jobs that others would never touch – and doing them joyfully. You will learn what many these days have not: the hat few things are as gratifying as meaningful work, that faith without works is dead. And then when perplexed come up and say, “I would not do what you do for all the money in the world,” have your answer ready: “Mister, neither would I.” Why do you do what you do?