Women in the workplace: Being a witness, making disciples

Last time we met, we talked about having enough time to balance busy lives. Today, we’ll think about opportunities at work.

Time is sufficient; but opportunities are lost

If we give ourselves enough time, we can be open to the challenges that God has for us. I don’t know about you, but I find it horrifyingly easy to divide myself into several different people depending on where I am, and often, they don’t resemble each other.

Let me give you an example. At church, I can be a listening ear, a smiling face, an enthusiastic worshipper. At home, when I’m tired at the end of the day, my ears can be far from listening and my mouth far too ready to talk. At other times, my church and home personalities overlap as I am equally ready to pray in either situation – but not at work, even when scenarios were uncannily similar. I’ll pray for a Christian friend or family member who is struggling with a difficult relationship; I won’t, usually, for a colleague – although, when I have occasionally done so, it has been well received.

There are people we know who stay the same wherever they are. How can we do that too?

Here were some suggestions for bringing your church or home person to work.

Be yourself Remember that you are the only Bible your work colleagues might ever read. No pressure, then! Don’t pretend to be someone you are not – and that includes not being a different person at work than at church. You are a Christian – act like one! And no, I don’t mean trying to be ‘good’, or ‘holy’. It is more than that. If, talking to a colleague, they share something that, if a Christian friend said the same, you might say that you would pray about it; or, if you would offer to do something for someone at church, why hold back in a similar situation just because you are at work?

Give your workmates a gift of time. Your colleague interrupts with a request. If the roles were reversed, what response would you be looking for? This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should drop what you are doing: an acknowledgement, a ‘can you give me 5 minutes and then I’ll be with you?’ will do just as well – just make sure it really is 5 minutes, not half an hour!

Treat your colleagues as you want to be treated. We all appreciate a friendly interest. Show them you care and appreciate them.

Make the most of opportunities. If a colleague has shared something personal, then ask after them at a later date. A friendly ‘how was your weekend?’ can open up conversations in unexpected ways.

Invite your colleagues home. Coffee, tea, lunch, dinner… whatever seems appropriate and is easy for you. Showing hospitality is powerful.

Take risks. Those who don’t ask don’t get. This applies to building relationships, offering prayer, sharing words of encouragement. It’s scary – but not as scary as the thought that Jesus will one day ask you why you didn’t share your treasure with others!

Remember who you are. A child of God. Keep in touch with your heavenly father by taking a few minutes to read some words from the Bible in your lunch break. Refocusing will help close the gap. Pray on your way to work; at work; before a meeting; at the end of the day. It can be hard to remember to do this when you are immersed in work, so give yourself reminders: set the alarm on your phone for a certain time; note a landmark on your way to work, associating it with a particular person or situation you are praying for; have a note – unobtrusively! - on a Post-it on your desk. Set your desktop background or screensaver with an inspirational picture or short message.