Christmas season is over and my son is back in California with the Army. My daughter will soon return to college. It was a nice season, but I was struck by the question we were asked most regularly: Are they enjoying themselves?
My son, age 23, was asked if he was "enjoying" the Army. My daughter, age 19, was regularly asked if she was "enjoying" college. Everyone we talked to asked if they were "enjoying" where they were. When did we start thinking this way?
I was struck by how much we value enjoyment. My son is in the Army. His duty is to become a good soldier, to succeed in his training, to meet his physical standards, and to learn all that he is told to learn. It is not his job to enjoy this process. I think this struck me because, knowing a lot of history, I can tell you that very few people "enjoy" the Army. There is nothing there to enjoy. You are there to do a job.
My daughter is in a different situation, in college, but the same rule applies. She is not there to enjoy herself, but to prepare herself for life. She is not supposed to be "having fun," but she is supposed to be learning. Did I enjoy college? No, not really. I had some fun, had some tears, and learned what I needed to learn.
How many men and women really enjoy their jobs? Do you think the dental hygienist enjoys scraping teeth all day? Does the trash man enjoy picking up trash and smelling that smell all day? Does the surgeon enjoy every surgery and every follow-up visit? Does the teacher enjoy all the paperwork and every class? If so, why do they need so many days off? (Seriously, I am amazed at how many days off my local teachers get these days.)
There was a time when people understood that we enjoy our family and our friends and our hobbies. Work is what we do in order to be able to afford the time and activities we spend with our families and our friends and our hobbies. My son in the Army is at work. He is learning the skills he needs to do his job. He is not supposed to "enjoy" the process, he is supposed to succeed at it. My daughter in college is not there to enjoy herself, but to learn. If she does not learn, who cares that she enjoys herself?
I am guilty of this way of thinking sometimes as well, even though I know that you do not enjoy everything. I did not enjoy law school, but I did it. I enjoyed going home to my wife and daughter during law school, but did not enjoy law school.
It is only by God's grace that some people "enjoy" the work they do. Most of us just work. That is why we are paid to work, but we pay other people to let us play golf. We are paid because, if we were not paid, we would not do it. If we won the lottery, as we all say, we would stay long enough just to say goodbye.
We used to know this. We used to understand that work had a function (supporting yourself and your family). We used to know that our enjoyment was at home, not at work. My joy comes from the Lord and my family and my friends and my activities, not from my job.
So, on this day after the holidays, when you go back to work, the issue is not whether you are happy to be back at work or whether you enjoy the day's work. The issue is whether you are faithful, doing what needs to be done, as God intended. Whether at work, in the Army, or at college, there is something far greater at stake than your enjoyment.
My son, age 23, was asked if he was "enjoying" the Army. My daughter, age 19, was regularly asked if she was "enjoying" college. Everyone we talked to asked if they were "enjoying" where they were. When did we start thinking this way?
I was struck by how much we value enjoyment. My son is in the Army. His duty is to become a good soldier, to succeed in his training, to meet his physical standards, and to learn all that he is told to learn. It is not his job to enjoy this process. I think this struck me because, knowing a lot of history, I can tell you that very few people "enjoy" the Army. There is nothing there to enjoy. You are there to do a job.
My daughter is in a different situation, in college, but the same rule applies. She is not there to enjoy herself, but to prepare herself for life. She is not supposed to be "having fun," but she is supposed to be learning. Did I enjoy college? No, not really. I had some fun, had some tears, and learned what I needed to learn.
How many men and women really enjoy their jobs? Do you think the dental hygienist enjoys scraping teeth all day? Does the trash man enjoy picking up trash and smelling that smell all day? Does the surgeon enjoy every surgery and every follow-up visit? Does the teacher enjoy all the paperwork and every class? If so, why do they need so many days off? (Seriously, I am amazed at how many days off my local teachers get these days.)
There was a time when people understood that we enjoy our family and our friends and our hobbies. Work is what we do in order to be able to afford the time and activities we spend with our families and our friends and our hobbies. My son in the Army is at work. He is learning the skills he needs to do his job. He is not supposed to "enjoy" the process, he is supposed to succeed at it. My daughter in college is not there to enjoy herself, but to learn. If she does not learn, who cares that she enjoys herself?
I am guilty of this way of thinking sometimes as well, even though I know that you do not enjoy everything. I did not enjoy law school, but I did it. I enjoyed going home to my wife and daughter during law school, but did not enjoy law school.
It is only by God's grace that some people "enjoy" the work they do. Most of us just work. That is why we are paid to work, but we pay other people to let us play golf. We are paid because, if we were not paid, we would not do it. If we won the lottery, as we all say, we would stay long enough just to say goodbye.
We used to know this. We used to understand that work had a function (supporting yourself and your family). We used to know that our enjoyment was at home, not at work. My joy comes from the Lord and my family and my friends and my activities, not from my job.
So, on this day after the holidays, when you go back to work, the issue is not whether you are happy to be back at work or whether you enjoy the day's work. The issue is whether you are faithful, doing what needs to be done, as God intended. Whether at work, in the Army, or at college, there is something far greater at stake than your enjoyment.
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