How a Bird Handles Job Stress
May 21, 2009

This week's article is from guest columnist, Mike Wright...

Tim's knee wouldn't quit bouncing. Up and down, up and down, up and down... bouncing faster than you could say "up and down" and perhaps even faster than could be seen.

This was a new symptom. The twitching eyelid, the pain in the temple and the crick in the neck were now old hat; "comes with being in my 50's," he'd joke to those around him. The bouncing knee; he'd add that to his growing list of maladies.

Although he was pretty sure no one else in the room was aware of his bouncing knee, he wasn't so sure about the flushness in his face. He could feel the redness but there really was nothing he could do about it at the moment. Maybe a splash of cold water later.

The knee began bouncing when the supervisor started this latest tirade in Tim's direction. What Tim had chalked up as a normal, occasional "blowing off some steam" had become more frequent, more intense, and often had little or nothing to do with Tim's own job performance or even anything related to his department.

More rants from the boss, more pains in the temple, more arguments with his wife, more yelling at the kids, more than an occasional glass of wine. He'd been thinking lately that it might not be coincidental. He'd even started sneaking cigarettes...a habit he'd kicked years before.

With one hand rubbing his temple, the other hand on his knee; in between the "I'm sorry you feel that way..." and "Yes, sir, but...," Tim had the sudden insight that his paycheck, his livelihood, even his current financial security was dependant on this young, irrational, puffed-up bully that was now chewing him out in front of his coworkers.

For the first time since his twenties, Tim was scared of losing his job.

While the verbal berating continued, Tim mentally made a rapid assessment of his financial status.

The home equity that was going to cover his daughter's tuition was now a negative number. (He'd thought it would be a good idea for his daughter to practice saying the phrase "Would you like fries with that?" but his wife intervened.)

Except for the supervisor's shrill voice, the normally busy office had suddenly become quiet as Tim's coworkers stopped what they were doing to watch the one-sided exchange.

A quick mental calculation of his 401K account that at one time would've enabled him to retire comfortably at 65, reminded him that he'd now be working to at least 75 and that that was if ramen noodles were on the menu six days a week.

He thought about his bank account, the few stock shares he'd faithfully accumulated, his antiques and the little rental houses, and quickly determined that should he become suddenly unemployed, he'd have the resources to last maybe 10 to 15 months.

"Who am I kidding?" he thought. "In this economy I'd last ten to fifteen minutes maybe."

With his knee bouncing faster, his neck stiffening, his eyelid twitching, his temple throbbing, his boss yelling and his coworkers watching as they now backed out of the room, Tim's eyes wandered to the window behind his boss where a V-formation of Canadian geese could be seen in the distance.

As his mind wandered, Tim was aware that the boss was now pacing in front of his desk, his arms flailing and his voice even louder.

"Headed south for the winter...wish it was me," Tim thought.

He loved geese. He remembered a book he read that talked about the way geese stuck together, looked out for one another and encouraged each other with their honking. He thought about how they always seem to know where they're going and why they're going there. Tim wandered why people couldn't be more like geese.

As the words coming from the now-screaming supervisor had become a blur, Tim remembered a Bible verse he'd memorized as a child but hadn't thought of in years.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26

"Look at the birds of the air...the birds of the air...Lord, you've got them and you've got me."

"What did you say?"

With the supervisor's question, Tim was once again aware of his not-so-pleasant circumstances.

Bowing his head down towards the desktop, Tim now wondered if he'd really spoken his little prayer out loud. He wasn't sure.

"I...I just said...I'm sorry...It's okay...really...."

"Yeah...well...whatever you..." Calmer now, the boss seemed to be searching for words.

"We'll talk more later." With that, the supervisor quietly left the office. Realizing the "storm" had passed and that he was now alone, Tim turned his head towards the ceiling, in heaven's direction.

"Thank you." He knew for sure he'd spoken that out loud.

At just that moment, Tim's knee quit bouncing. 

February 19 , 2009: Learn to Move a 100-Car Train

I've always been fascinated by trains. I used to lay in bed at night, before falling asleep, and imagine climbing into a freight car and traveling across the country. Even now when I hear a faraway train whistle from the deck of my house it stirs up an urge to travel.

November 6, 2005: The Value of Secrets

It may surprise you to discover that there is nothing you can do to endear yourself to others more than opening up and being vulnerable. If you’ll build more windows and fewer walls, you’ll have more shoulder to shoulder friends. We all need at least one person to whom we can tell everything.

October 24, 2005: Finding Success That Matters

Brothers, I urge you to join me in investing our lives into endeavors that truly matter, into things that are of eternal consequence. The crowns that the world bestows on us wither away all too quickly. But long after the accolades are gone and the light fades on our careers, we can wear a crown that lasts forever if we yield our time, treasures and talents to God.