Of Pagans and the Work Place

I have started a new job. Tonight I finished class room training and will begin next week with my "crew" for several weeks of probationary working. Essentially I'll make it to seniority as long as I don't run over anyone, don't run into anything, wear the right shoes, show up to work, show up on time to work and do the job.

I know several guys who work at a different location for the same company doing a different function. They and many of those they work with are fellow seminarians. I would have been heading in the same general direction had an oportunity to work on "the ramp" not happened.

As it is, I work with only one fellow brother in the Lord. The rest are quite clearly pagans. I would imagine there are other seminarians on the ramp. I hope to meet them.

I thought it would be interesting to quote some conversations and interactions I've had:

The guy who sat beside me in training:

The smell of cigarettes came wafting into the room and I said, "I'm going to shut the door. That cigarette smoke stinks." Looking over to him, "Do you smoke?"

He said, "Yeah."

I said, "That'll kill you. I'm telling you, I used to smoke and it is nasty stuff. It'll kill you."

He said, "Oh, well."

I said, "So you don't mind living your last days choking on your lungs?"

He said, "We're all going to die. Why not get there quicker."

I said, "Ok, but then what?"

He said, "Huh, you're dead."

I said, "You're just dead? That's it? What's after that?"

He said, "I don't know, I guess just nothing."

I said, "If there were judgement or something to fear afterwards would that change how you live now?"

He said, "Yeah."

Another conversation with later in the week:

I asked, "Did you get your check?"

He said, "Nope."

I joked, "It's a conspiracy. The government is doing this on purpose."

He said, "Yeah, you're probably right. I hate the government. If I had the chance I would kill George Bush.

I exclaimed, "What!? You'd do what?"

He said, very confidently, "I mean it, if I had the chance I'd put a %$#@!*^ bullet in his head. He's screwed up the country. I wish Bill Clinton was still president."

I shook my head and said, "I'll be glad when Jesus comes back. He's the real King."

He said, "I don't believe in Jesus."

I said, "He believes in you."

He said, "I mean, I'm an atheist."

I said, "Well, He isn't."

He said, "I don't know anything and I don't care about anything."

I said, "Well you better hope you're right in atheism, because He is very sure and He does care."

He got very quiet and thoughtful. If God led you here and you happen to read my post, then pray for this guy. I'll see him a lot on the job. We have a good comradery so understand that the conversation we had was in a very relaxed and friendly context. He isn't avoiding me now as a result. In fact, I think it safer to talk about most anything.

I am hopeful of the Lord's work at this job. Pray for me that I would be filled with energy to do the job and do it well (it's 3rds). Pray that I would have wise judgement in choosing my words with others. To be more afraid of God's rebuke at not taking the opportunities than of the rebuke of those I plead with.