Another Brick In The Wall
At work I have a brick on my desk. For a long time this was one of only two nonessential items if my once spartan office. As I have become more comfortable expressing my personality to my coworkers I have added other personal items. An odd thing happened when I added more personal things. I thought adding more personal things more people would feel invited to talk with me about this item or that thing but the opposite has happened. When it sat almost alone on my desk the brick received may questions and comments. Now it generally sites unremarkable hidden in plain site.
The brick itself is not of great significance or sentimental worth. It was once a used as a doorstop until our director expressed a concern that it could be used to break the glass door it was frequently used to prop open. Not knowing exactly what to do with it I put the brick on my desk. After doing this was reminded of a story about three bricklayers. It goes something like this. A passerby saw three men working and inquired what they were doing. The first somewhat ill-tempered worker said he was earning x dollars a day. The second said exhaustively he was building a wall. The third said cheerfully that he was building a hospital for the people in his community to get the medical treatment they need. I have also heard the third say he was building a few other types of buildings. The general meaning of the story is that our prospective of what are doing impacts our attitude towards that activity.
It's easy to be discontent when we feel like we're taking what their giving 'cause we're working for a livin' when our work means only a paycheck. When our focus is on the endless list of tasks we can frequently feel exhausted with no relief or end in sight. It has been said that where there is no vision the people perish. The inverse is also true. When there is shared vision the people flourish. It is amazing the load we can carry when we feel our efforts are helpful to others and part of a greater whole.
This brick is not just a brick; it's also a brick. It was once stood together with others like itself as wall that was part of a building. It was once a doorstop that held the door for staff and children. Currently it is a symbolic reminder to me to keep positive prospective about the work I do. Sometimes we may view ourselves as having a singular role to fill and feel lost if that role changes. We are not one dimensional characters. There will be times when we work together with others strengthening each other. There will be times of solitary service working alone for the greater good. Sometimes there is nothing more we can do for others than remind them that we are there for them and that things will get better.
