山頂與職場

這些年來我有多次的「山頂經歷」。造訪一個如大峽谷的大自然奇景，看到那難以想像的宏偉壯觀景象，就是一次「山頂經歷」。但我的「山頂經歷」最常來自特會和其他專業和屬靈的集會中。在那些活動中，我遇到很棒的人，且聽到傑出的信息，挑戰我成為更好的人、丈夫、父親、工商人士、作家、編輯、心靈導師與朋友。

有時我的經驗包括我所謂的「屬靈高峰」，那種幸福、興奮和熱情的感覺，讓我相信我與過去不再一樣了。「當我回到家或回到工作場所，事情將會不同。」我是這麼想。

只是有一個問題：我們無法一直留在山頂。我們必須回到山谷，回到我們的最後期限、工作要求、財務壓力、不講理的同事、老闆和客戶所居住的地方。有時回到「山谷」，每天生活的壓力如此強烈地打擊，讓我們很快就懷疑：「幾天前我感覺那麼興奮。那是怎麼一回事？」

所以一旦我們離開山頂，回到每天要面對的憂悶時，我們要怎麼辦？當山頂的光彩褪去，我們如何能成功地繼續完成我們立志要作的改變？我建議我們要記得我們不是孤單一人：

上帝一直同在。若你相信改變是必要的，很可能上帝是透過講員和信息向你說話。請記住，你可能在山頂遇到了祂，但祂也會在山谷遇見你。詩篇139篇7-10節向我們保證道：「我往哪裏去躲避你的靈？我往哪裏逃、躲避你的面？我若升到天上，你在那裏；我若在陰間下榻，你也在那裏。我若展開清晨的翅膀，飛到海極居住，就是在那裏，你的手必引導我；你的右手也必扶持我。」

你的配偶會幫忙。即使你的配偶沒有你的才幹與專業，上帝有辦法使用我們的配偶作為回響板，外來的寶貴回饋意見，並提供你所需要的鼓勵與支持。「房屋錢財是祖宗所遺留的；惟有賢慧的妻是耶和華所賜的」（箴言19章14節）。

可信賴的朋友與夥伴可以提供支持。我所熱愛的事情之一是擔任心靈導師──用聖經的原則作為方針去幫助人們處理個人生活和工作上的問題。我們可能有最好的意願，但有時外在的影響──或我們內在的弱點──使我們偏離軌道。一位可信賴的導師、輔導或朋友可以幫助我們遵循承諾，或提供意見幫助我們作必要的改變。他們可以提供我們非常需要的當責與支持。「鐵磨鐵，磨出刃來；朋友相感也是如此」（箴言27章17節）。

勞勃．泰默西是領袖資產協會的通訊部副部長，這是一個總部在美國喬治亞州亞特蘭大的非營利組織。他也是一個有40年經驗的退休新聞工作者。他寫過一本書「最佳狀態的商業：箴言給今日職場的歷久彌新智慧」（Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace）。他也與David A. Stoddard合著一本書「導師之心」（The Heart of Mentoring）。要了解更多資訊, 可上網www.leaderslegacy.com 或上他的部落格www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com 以及www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com。

Over the years I have had numerous “mountaintop experiences.” Visiting a natural wonder like the Grand Canyon, with its unimaginable grandeur, was one such occasion. But most often my “mountaintops” have come during conferences and other professional and spiritual gatherings. There I met wonderful people and heard outstanding messages that challenged me to become a better man, husband, father, businessman, writer, editor, mentor, and friend.

Sometimes my experiences included what I term a “spiritual high,” feelings of euphoria, excitement and enthusiasm that had me convinced I would never be the same. “It will be different when I get home (or back to work),” I would think.

There is only one problem: We cannot remain on the mountaintop. We must return to the valley, back to where deadlines, job demands, financial stresses, unreasonable coworkers, bosses and clients reside. Sometimes back in the “valley,” the pressures of everyday life hit us so strongly that we quickly wonder, “I felt so excited just a few days ago. What was that all about?”

So what do we do once we leave the mountaintop behind and return to our day-to-day doldrums? How can we succeed in following through on our resolve to make necessary changes even after the glow of the mountaintop moment fades? I would suggest that we keep in mind that we are not alone:

God is always there. If you felt convinced that changes were necessary, chances are good God was speaking to you through the speakers and the messages. Remember, you might have encountered Him on the mountaintop, but He will also meet you in the valley. Psalm 138:7-10 assures us, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.“

Your spouse wants to help. Even if your spouse does not share your talents or expertise, God has a way of using our spouses as sounding boards, sources for valuable outside feedback, and to offer needed encouragement and support. “Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord” (Proverbs 19:14),

Trusted friends and associates can provide support. One of my passions is mentoring – meeting with other men and helping them address personal and professional issues, using biblical principles as a guide. We might have the best of intentions, but sometimes external influences – or our internal weaknesses – can get us off track. A trusted mentor, advisor or friend can help us to follow through on commitments, or offer counsel on how to make necessary changes. They can provide much-needed accountability and support. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran journalist for 40 years, he is the author of Tufting Legacies (iUniverse); Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace (River City Press); and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress). For more information, see www.leaderslegacy.com or his blogs, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com and www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com.