Last Words
I thought the interview was over, but I really wanted to keep going. I had learned so much and I knew that just a few more tidbits would seal the deal on the best day of my life. I just hoped my wife wouldn’t find out I thought this was the best day of my life rather than our wedding day. But I was sure she would forgive me. I mean, how many other husbands have had several hours with the Lord?
“Sam, I will leave you with several more tidbits for now, but then you really need to be heading home and the driver has returned to take you back. I hate to keep him waiting… remember what I said about stealing someone’s time. Even I must follow that rule.”
As I started to stand, the Lord also got up and gave me a hug. He then let go.
“I want you to be clear, Sam, that while I can pull some strings, it is up to you and everyone to do their part. I carved the first tablet of commandments (Exodus 31:18), but then made Moses write the second set. I wanted his direct involvement. The same way I want people to act on their own and not be charity cases. That did not work out well for me with the Garden of Eden. I gave people everything, but that was not what they really wanted. I do not dictate the direction or actions people take; all I can do is give a framework to do things right. That is what I have given you to write the piece, you must craft it yourself.”
“In Deuteronomy 10:12 Moses gave advice that I still think is as critical today as it was back them. When I was asked to forgive the Israelites, I asked for three things: Fear the Lord; Love the Lord; and Honor the Lord. I think they are basic steps that still reflect what I want from people today. I want them to act like they know I am watching. I want them to love me and the world I created and cherish my creations whether humans, animals, or the planet. Lastly, I want to be honored by people doing the right thing- whether being kind to others to helping those in need to having power, but only using it for good. Honoring me can include praising me such as how Moses’ father-in-law Yitro praised me. He is one of billions over the years who have praised me. That is a huge honor.”
Up on the screen appeared Jerusalem. I had seen so many pictures before, and this looked like a drone shot video.
“Leaders should develop a holy place in the workplace. Yes, Jerusalem is my holy city. But Mount Siani was holy, Egypt was holy when I created my miracles there, numerous parts of the desert are holy, even Hoboken, New Jersey can be holy.”
God laughed…then leaned over and whispered in my ear… “You are actually in Hoboken.”
I was shocked. Not that I have anything against Hoboken, but why not a fancy location in New York City?
“Because I wanted to prove a point. A business located in an area for ease in attracting/retaining employees or for processing orders is great, but a great company doesn’t need to be in the biggest city to have class. They can have class anywhere by turning where they are into a holy place. How is that done? By doing holy things there. Treating people well, being just, trusting my ways, and not cheating in business. When that is done, the workplace is holy…even if it is the Michael Scott Paper Company operating out of closet in the Dunder Mifflin building in Scranton, PA.”
I loved The Office. I wondered how often the Lord might bring that up as there are so many good and bad lessons there.
The Lord pulled out a Michael Scott bobblehead doll. “I love that show.”
“I headed to the door but couldn’t resist one last attempt to obtain a pearl of wisdom. “Any last thoughts you’d like my readers to know?”
“Sam, we must teach people to be good. I don’t think it is that easy. It is much harder than many people think. Doing good is an individual act. People must do it themselves and there is no surrogate to do it for them. When I gave the Ten Commandments, I gave them in the singular. Thou shalt not kill is not given in the plural, but in the singular. While societies can be bad, it is individual people who do wrong acts. Thus, managers must relate to people individually to make sure they do what is good. I previously talked about how listening is critical…well when people do wrong it is normally when they are focused on what their eyes see and what they want. That is why when I gave the law for Jews to wear fringes on their garment. Those fringes serve as a reminder and visible sign of how to behave. I wrote (Numbers 15:39) the Israelites should follow these commands, “and not explore after your heart and after your eyes after which you stray.” It is so easy to go astray when one follows their eyes and lust for things. Remember my tenth commandment not to covet…that is often caused by what people see. The eyes and the heart are connected. Our eyes often see what our heart wants them to see. If one really wants to see good in others, they can. Their heart allows them to see good. One thing to remember is that when someone has a visible sign that they follow a higher order they must act a given way. It is like the Hebrew National commercials; they answer to higher authority. Sometimes having a sign can help reinforce that you need to report to a higher authority and do good- that is because everyone else is watching.”
Up on the screen popped up all the signs I could imagine. Stop signs, yield signs, railroad crossing, no smoking— hundreds of signs.
“Sam, people should have a lucky sign or number that people can gravitate around. My number is seven. It is considered a lucky number in Judaism. I built the world in seven days, there are seven days in the week, and I rested on the seventh day. On the seventh year the earth is supposed to rest on its sabbatical. Some of my holidays are seven days such as Passover and Succot. In China eight is the lucky number. It doesn’t matter what the number is, but businesses need dates, times, numbers, colors, whatever it takes to serve as a galvanizing matter for the employees. Thus, if 1 is the lucky number chosen by the organization maybe they can have ice cream every Friday at 1:00 p.m. It can be a ritual that everyone can gather around. I onetime stayed at Graceland Manor in Memphis. Every night after 10:00 they served peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with bananas and milk. The lines were so long. Elvis and I only got one sandwich each.”
“The rituals also help us remember. I made remembering a key part of the Passover holiday observance.”
I used to take my family out every Saturday night for pizza. We went to the same pizzeria, ordered the same pizza, and joked around for hours. How was I to know I had created a family ritual upon which to galvanize my family. If we ever miss a Saturday night, the kids get upset. They even want to invite friends to join us because it is so special.
“Sam, tell your readers to create both family and workplace rituals. Creating an important workplace ritual that everyone follows and has meaning can create a bond that others will cherish and pass on to the next generation. Some people receive a financial reward for doing well or their photo goes up on a wall. That is fine and good, but that does not represent a workplace ritual. Having a donation go to a meaningful cause, having employee receive a day-off to donate their time, or paying it forward by current employees going to a former employee’s house to help with chores are better rituals or customs that everyone in a workplace covenant can embrace and serve the workplace, workers, and me.”
The Lord continued. “When the Israelites first received water from the rock in the desert it was a very special event. But then they got used to it. They received that water for 40 years. It wasn’t until the death of Miriam that they realized they should not have taken the rock and its water for granted. There are so many things in a workplace that employees take for granted. The convenient parking spot, clean bathrooms, hot coffee, and casual Fridays. Whatever it is, people often take for granted something in the workplace that has been there for a while. The same applies to managers. Maybe they take the custodian who has been there for granted. Leaders might forget that it is the small things people do daily that make it possible to grow and reach shareholder goals. Only when something is wrong do people panic and wish things were back to their old normal. Thus, celebrate all the little things and honor all the folks on a regular basis. You never know when the well will run dry.”
“Another thing Sam, take a day off. Take two days off. I require the land to rest for an entire year. If you work every day, you are a slave to work. I already mentioned the Sabbath and resting, but the land also needs to rest during the sabbatical year. The only way someone can truly break the shackles of slavery is to say I cannot work. I need time to unwind and recuperate. I ask workaholics all the time if it was worth all the hard work. The answer has always been no- even from those who were doing good with their work.”
“I like the following words of advice, Sam, as you leave me for now:
Work like you do not need the money.
Love like you have never been hurt.
Dance like no one is watching.
Sing like no one is listening.
Live like its Heaven on earth.”
“Sam, I know you will have many big dreams… act on them.”
With that the Lord hugged me again. This was a long, drawn-out hug that seemed to last forever, but was probably just two minutes. I realized that was the signal that the interview had ended.
“God, can I get another hug?”
“Sure, I am a hugger.”
He gave me a huge bear hug this time. I mean a real bear hug. His body transformed into a bear. Not a Black or Grizzle bear, but a large teddy bear. He did not want to frighten me. I felt so warm and comfortable. I did not want to leave.
“As long as you have me in your heart, Sam, that should provide you with some warmth even on the coldest of days.”
Moses ushered me out. I waived to the Lord. I thanked Rebecca and told her I would buy one of the stain-sticks she showed me. We went to the Prius. No need for a blindfold anymore. I could see. The Lord was not joking — I could see New Jersey in a new light.
At one point we saw someone asking for donations on the side of the road.
“Moses, can you pull over, I want to give him some change.”
Moses pulled over. I reached into my wallet and took out a $10 bill. I handed the bill to the person. He was no longer a bum. He was a person who needed help and I needed to treat him with love.
“Thank you, Sam…” the person said.
Moses pulled away before I could complete my thought.
“How did he know….” Moses just looked at me while we were driving and winked.
God Inc. had so many employees.
We drove to my house and the drive was filled with a wonderful conversation. I asked about the desert. The ten commandments, what it was like dealing with Pharaoh, the questions went on. If the interview with the Lord was great…well my Driving Miss Daisy experience with Moses might require another complete article…or two.
