The last few days, I’ve started going to a church at lunchtime and having a bit of a pray.
Having been on close personal terms with Jesus for some time, prayer is not a new thing for me. But praying at lunchtime is.
What I want to write about is one of the unexpected outcomes of these little spiritual sojourns.
Namely, a more productive afternoon.
When I return to work after lunchtimes, I find I’m refreshed, refocused and re-energised.
Having taken my eyes off work for a bit, I come back to it with fresh eyes. Which I guess I would if I just went for a walk. But I’m also more motivated. You could even say I’m happier.
So it actually benefits my employer for me to pray at lunchtime. Which makes me wonder if companies should have prayer rooms. Because not everyone has a handy, quiet, open church around the corner.
I’m not sure how you calculate the efficiency of this idea: rise in productivity against cost of an extra room. But it’s a thought.
Amen.
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Agencies have all these things designed to stimulate thought - ping-pong tables, blackboards, whiteboards, sofas, stupid chairs with five legs and no back, chandeliers, "ideas trampolines" (okay my brother made that up when he was taking the piss out of me)...
ReplyDelete...but, for some reason, 'space' is never thought of a stimulus. Good on you, Dave.
As an atheist, I'm intrigued... when you are praying are you asking for inspiration and ideas (I've only got the kid's view of praying where it's quite specific - you ask for something or for someone to get better etc) or is it more like meditation and trying to empty your head?
ReplyDeleteA brave post Dave. I agree with Jam, most agencies make no attempt to engage with the aspects of people's personalities that really make them creative. Some of them have a bar, which is really just an assertion that the only thing that works is booze.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments virtual friends.
ReplyDeleteChalky
Good question. It’s impossible to answer it without sounding like a trendy vicar so I’m just going to dive right in.
My focus in prayer isn't getting ideas or anything to do with work specifically, my focus is God.
I understand the view of prayer you’re talking about – being like a kid asking for stuff – and actually that is definitely part of it, but only a small part.
Maybe a more helpful picture is talking to a friend. Prayer is spending time with God, just like you do with anyone you have a relationship with. And by doing that - talking to him, reading the bible, you get to know him better, which is the ultimate aim.
In terms of what I practically do, it's different every time (just like when you spend time with…etc etc.) but would include one or more of the following: thanking God for who he is, praising him, maybe meditating on a bit of scripture, asking for help with stuff in my life or other peoples' and just reflecting on stuff.
So the work benefits fall out of it as a by-product, but it’s not the reason I do it.
Have I answered your question? Or do I sound like a nutter? Or both?
Yes you have answered my question - very well and very honestly - fair play to you. You don't sound like a nutter. You sound like a believer. If it works for you that's great. When I've felt the need to chill out like that, I try to empty my head and breathe in positive stuff and breathe out negative stuff. Different strokes for different folks I guess...
ReplyDeletehmmm, yeah. very interesting. when i get time and space for a proper lunchbreak i usually go off wandering, looking for brainfood of some sort. an exhibition or a coffee and a book...something where you can lose yourself in yourself and your own thoughts for a while.
ReplyDeleteand it always works.
so whether it's prayer or anything else, i'd definitely agree it's worth the agency (or any other business employing creatives) fiercely protecting your lunchbreak. a precious thing indeed...if only they all saw it that way.