Y Not I

One thing that I have been adjusting to in my new job has been the way the company does things. This is the first real corporate culture that I have worked in and everything is done according to a process. The process comes first and is the most important. Other places that I have worked are more results oriented, accomplishing tasks, getting things done. I guess there are reason for corporations to have a process and have the process trump the results. For one, it should ensure that things are done correctly, and corners are not cut, nor are laws broken. If the process is followed, then the results are sure to be in line with company ethics and legal requirements. So it makes some sense.

Of course, for someone used to results oriented thinking, it is a learning experience. I think most of us are results oriented with our own lives. We need food, we go to the market or out to eat. Complete the result. We do not look to a process (the wife does the food shopping, so I will need to wait for her to go shopping before I can eat again), to get the results. For me, I have had to not complete a task that I am able to do, that would take a minute or so to do, because it is not my job to do it. Even though the person requesting it was asking for it ASAP, I had to return to the person and say that according to the policies here, you need to do X, Y and Z to get this accomplished, sorry but I cannot help you. That goes against my grain and against the way I think most people think. We are more likely to see a need and fill the need.

However, one day my wife said something to me that made me think about this in relation to G-d. She said she was just going to do things the way she should and trust G-d for the results. Does that mean that G-d is more process oriented than results oriented? I think it may be the case. I think G-d wants us to do as commanded and not get our own thoughts, opinions and perceived results in the way of the process. Then G-d does bless the process and produces fruit. Interesting, isn’t it.

Rabbi Stuart Dauerman had an interesting post that although not speaking of process vs. results, does refer to a lighthouse that G-d has as a fixed point of reference. To me that lighthouse is the process. In the post the good Rabbi comments on the passage from Jeremiah being used as the reference:

Verses 21-23 are something of a thematic prologue for the passage under consideration, which will end with a thematic epilogue as well. And there is much of interest here. When God says “I did not speak with (your ancestors) concerning burnt offerings or sacrifice,” he is of course not saying, “I never mentioned this,” because, obviously he did. Rather, he is saying, “That was not my point.” Rather, his point was, then as now, to command them and us to do his bidding, to walk ONLY in the way that he enjoins upon us, that he might be our God and we his people.

The Rabbi seems to be saying that by walking in only in the way G-d instructs is to follow the process. To continue towards the lighthouse. A path to the left or right might appear to better, a shortcut, one that might provide a seemingly great result, but in reality only provides opportunities to get lost.

I think both the Rabbi’s thoughts and my own indicate that we should walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). That is the process. The result is the glory and honor brought to G-d and the blessing that G-d brings to us for being faithful servants.

Pray on these things.