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I was in an office building the other day for an
appointment. As I was sitting in the waiting room
I watched several office workers hurry by. Their
faces were full of seriousness and worry and not a
single one had a smile. Each of them seemed full
of stress and empty of joy. It saddened me to
think that everyone of them had just started their
workday and would spend another seven hours in
this state.
It was then, however, that I noticed what had to
be the happiest worker that I had ever seen. This
person was actually singing while she worked. She
had a smile for me, the others in the waiting
room, and every other worker who passed her way.
Several of those serious, worried, and unhappy
workers that I had seen earlier, in fact, stopped
to say hi to her. They soon were exchanging kind
words and gentle jokes with her as well. It was
clear that she was the real heart of this office
building, and not just the janitor who was mopping
the floor.
This wise lady with a mop reminded me that it is
not your work that makes you happy and it is not
the world that makes you happy. It is rather you
who bring joy to your work, and you who make the
world a happier place. God didn’t create you to
be miserable in this life. God brought you here
to spread love and share joy no matter what your
circumstances may be.
George Bernard Shaw once wrote that you should be
"a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish,
little clod of ailments and grievances complaining
that the world will not devote itself to making
you happy." Let us all take his advice then. Let
us all follow the beautiful example of a wonderful
janitor I know and bring joy to our work,
happiness to our world, and love to everyone
around us. Let us all be joyous forces of nature
and loving Children of God, working to clean this
world with our mops and to uplift this world with
our smiles. |
