Stairs & Circles

I didn’t know it, but I used to think of my progress in the world of work like a set of stairs. Now I think of it in terms of circles. 

To use business jargon, I thought all of my effort in career advancement was “up and to the right.” Linear. Progressive. Ever higher. You put in time and energy in this field or on that team, and you are rewarded for your effort with greater responsibilities or a promotion, so the thinking goes. Or, maybe more existentially, you find greater clarity in what you are to do, what you are good at. 

This may be true at times. But in my experience, movement through jobs has been less linear and more elliptical. Less climbing a mountain, more circling a cul-de-sac. And that may not be a bad thing.

I used to think that my efforts functioned in a cause and effect relationship. I put in the hard work, I move closer to more meaningful work and more compensation. But after a time, I saw people moving past me. They worked less and got more. They were promoted over me. Or others got the gift of clarity early on in life and figured out what they were good at. They got the opportunity to flex those muscles in work that fit them well. I, on the other hand, felt like I was treading water: lots of energy, little movement. What was happening? 

I cooled my jets, let off the throttle, and stopped trying so hard. I began questioning this cause and effect expectation. Maybe work and vocation didn’t function like walking up stairs. Being disillusioned with this assumption, a different image came to mind: that of circles (or spheres of influence).

What if, rather than your efforts moving you forward, God, in his time, is the One moving you from this place to that? What if He is the One behind the promotion (the firing, even?), the next job opportunity, or the clarity in your understanding of what you are to do work-wise? What if it is our responsibility not to knock down obstacles (at times) and charge ahead, but do the very best we can in our sphere of influence, in our circle of responsibility, trusting that in His time, He will move us to the next opportunity (move us to the next circle)?

It is important to note neither are exclusionary of the other. We don’t just spin our wheels until it’s our time for God to move us. But neither are we “captains of our fate,” marching up the corporate ladder solely by our grit. It is always a mixture of blood, sweat and tears (read, effort) and God’s grace, providence, and movement. How do they work together? I don’t know. It’s a mystery. But this is what faith is, what trust looks like: I expend my effort in my spheres of influence, my circles of responsibility, trusting it is not in vain. On the difficult days, I must remember He sees my work as I put it into his hands. 

Think of the story of Joseph. To be honest, this is a messy story. I am not quick to say, “look at God work! Praise be!” This story tempts me to question the goodness of God at face-value. The first things I see in this story are the injustice and cruelty Joseph suffered. Callously betrayed, he is abandoned in a pit by his brothers and sold into slavery. Malevolently framed, he is thrown into prison. Carelessly forgotten, he is left in prison after helping others. I don’t know what to do with those aspects of the story. But this isn’t the place to investigate that, now. Joseph does, however, commit himself to his work and trust in his God. He shows up every day and every time. He does not withhold his hand from good work. He takes care of Potiphar’s household, he extends God’s gift (of dream interpretation) to the baker and cupbearer, he uses his skill to help Pharaoh during a famine. And eventually, he brings healing to his family and community.

Hardly did Joseph strategically map out a career path for himself that led to Pharaoh’s right hand. He was less a ‘stair-climber’ and more of a ‘circle-dweller.’ A picture of trust and faith, energy and effort; offered to God and poured out for people. These kinds of stories reframe the way I think of movement through work. Just maybe, God will permit you and me the grace to expend ourselves in the circles of responsibility He has us in for this season, trusting that He knows our desires to move to other kinds of work and communities. Let us work and wait to that end, trusting His goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives.