Insanity and crowded working conditions sometimes prevail in the work place. City office buildings rise majestically toward the heavens and give the appearance from the outside of serenity and calmness. Palm trees sway in the cool breeze of an autumn morning as dew covered lawns reflect the sun's rays, like the lawns you would see at a golf course that are groomed with perfection.
However, on every floor level the same thing holds true—obnoxious odors of bad breath fill the air, as insensitive, antagonistic supervisors breathe down the necks of dedicated employees, demanding quantity from their performance like never before. Every employee feels the undeserved pressure that is exerted and passed down from upper management.
The mere presence of hyper-ventilating taskmasters is almost more than a person can bear. Innuendoes spoken in haste with no regard for an individual's feelings are experienced daily from these overbearing and insolent supervisors. Innuendoes can cut to the very core of tenderhearted people that are trying to do the best job they know how.
An employee should not have to experience the embarrassment of a supervisor's insensitive response to a valid question—watching their head shake from side to side in a "No!" type attitude; with eyes rolled back into their sockets; and hands thrown out to the sides with palms up, as if to say, "You dummy!"
I worked in a hostile, insane environment like this for several dispirited years. Each morning I drove into the parking lot outside my workplace and felt an overshadowing, burning desire to just keep driving and not look back, because of my disheartened and repressed state of mind. Had I been single and not married I would have done just that, but the responsibilities at home of raising a family of three weighed heavily, which prevented me from yielding to the urge of acting irresponsibly, because of irrational thinking.
After finding a stall and parking my Honda station wagon, I sat for a minute pondering the day; listening to my heart as it pounded in my ears. I was conscious of a squeezing sensation in my throat as if I were suffocating from lack of air. With reservation I grabbed the brown, paper sack sitting on the seat next to me that sometimes contained a fresh banana, corn chips, and ham on rye sandwich. I then forced myself out of the vehicle.
Walking slowly down the long, narrow sidewalk I could smell the sweet aroma of flowers that bordered the walk on each side. The building's double swinging, glass doors stood like the gates to hell, which seemed to beckon me to step through their portal into bitter torment.
Realizing that another day of insanity was about to begin, I wanted to break and run, but kept moving one foot in front of the other. I imagined myself walking down the road to Armageddon spoken of in the Bible, which will be the bloodiest battle ever fought in the history of the world. According to Bible prophets this will be the last war ever fought.
I felt like I was heading into battle, but this battle was a mental one. I dreaded the four walls that seemed to close in around me each day. The clock on the wall, above my desk, ticked loudly the passing minutes, which made the hours seem even longer. was like an eternity away.
Work had become a mere existence and a means to an end—feeding my family. I watched the clock on the wall, listened to my daily orders, and smiled hypocritically as though nothing was wrong when listening to my supervisor.
Another realization that added to the insanity of the work place was having the awareness that co-workers were watching my every move and waiting for an opportunity to make me look bad in front of the boss. They were back-stabbing, throat-cutting, position-grabbing-anglers, thinking only of themselves.
Maintaining my sanity was a painful effort. Weighing my words before speaking, watching my backside at all times, and giving ten hours work for eight hours pay was taxing at times. This institution was not the Garden of Eden by any stretch of the imagination. My work place was hell on earth—insane surroundings.
To prevent myself from sliding into the pit of despair and allowing self-pity to totally engulf me, I found a "sane place" that helped promote healing and the restoration of my tired mind, thus, preventing depression from devouring me. This place offered a relaxing, uninterrupted peaceful time away from the unbearable surroundings of work. It was my alone time with God and reading the Bible.
It’s amazing how strong a person can become when spending a few minutes on one's knees before God and casting all cares on Him. We rise with new vitality and a smile to face another day. The Lord is certainly the strength that makes all the difference in how we view things around us. The Holy Spirit brings contentment to a hurting soul and enriches one’s ability to cope with things that bring pain and frustration.
This peaceful haven-of-rest allowed my mind to unwind from the mental anxieties that bound my thoughts from day to day. My special place enabled me, and still does in my retirement years, to search my mind for ideas and thoughts from God that can encourage people like you that read my writings.
I believe that God allows me the opportunity to express helpful thoughts that touch the very foundation where people live. Everyone needs help from time to time to see the error of our way, and to see the importance of putting God first in all things.
I believe that God allows me the opportunity to express helpful thoughts that touch the very foundation where people live. Everyone needs help from time to time to see the error of our way, and to see the importance of putting God first in all things.
As a suggestion, try turning off the television and push yourself away from the computer that you love so much, and cease texting on your phone for just a few minutes. Close yourself in with just your thoughts and open your mind to a more superior power than the boss at work, or the pressing bills that need attention, or the bill collectors that keep calling. God's grace is sufficient for any need.
The omnipotent (all powerful) God of creation is available at your beckoned call. He is patiently awaiting your prayer to share with Him the things that are troubling you. He will give you direction and sustain you at your lowest ebb. Put Him first on your list of needs and see what He will do for you.
(Matthew 6:33), “But seek first the kingdom of God
My office at home is nothing like the beautiful office complex that I worked in. On the contrary, it is simply furnished, unlike the beauty of the commercial complex that held insanity behind its doors. My special place holds serenity behind its closed door even though it lacks sophistication and class. This place of tranquility helps me to think rationally and provides needed quietness, which acts as therapy in calming my nerves.
All of the hustle and bustle of life takes second place when I immerse myself in privacy. These uninterrupted moments with God help to rekindle the flame between us that may be flickering in the breath of anxiety, because of the things that are happening around me and in the world.
Remember, when a supervisor or boss huffs and puffs in the work place, God is your strength. The Lord will intervene as long as you maintain the right spirit. When it seems that answers fail to come, keep trusting God. He will make a way where there seems to be no way.
I shudder to think where my life would be today had I procrastinated in finding my place of refuge, away from the insane surroundings of the work place. I surrendered my life to Christ in 1969 and have never regretted my decision for one moment. The Lord gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by, while speaking peace to my heart. Try Jesus and see that He is good.
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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