A contrast in purposes

At a get together last week, I listened to two friends of mine disagree about their purpose in life. One had just landed a cushy state-government job and the other had recently started working for a TV-cable contractor.

The state-guy was proud of his perks and light work load, but he was also proud of the important job he had looking for progress of tree disease in our area. The job is union, with good benefits. He felt that he had earned the chance to relax, while my other friend thought he sounded like a gimmee-gimmee union guy.

The cable-guy felt that he was obligated to work hard and to make every effort to provide for his family. His job includes a point system that increases his pay according to how many jobs he can get done. An admitted ADD personality, he feels a need to have a complex job that keeps his mind challenged.

How we do and perceive our jobs do define a lot about our personality (and our interest in being 'Purpose driven'), and these two certainly helped me understand them better in the process. Why can't we get this type of dialog with members at church? I'll be thinking about that when I go to 'men's breakfast' this week.