A New York Times article recently reported on working conditions inside the retailing giant Amazon. But it was not a story about Far East sweatshops and near-slave labor. Instead it was a profile of white-collar corporate culture on hyper drive where new hires to execs are expected to conform to fourteen leadership principles in order to become an “Amazonian.” At first glance, the principles to “obsess over customers,” be “vocally self-critical” or “have relentlessly high standards” sound good for a company that prides itself on being “a peculiar bunch.” But it appears many of those principles have been warped into a culture of workaholism, paranoia over a tracking software and fear of sharing ideas because of brutal feedback.

More is (not) more

Some might think teens cannot relate to this topic but, on many levels, they already experience the consequences of a data-dominated world. Increasingly schools are required to prove their effectiveness by numbers. Standardized testing, core curriculums and constant student and teacher assessments have crowded out the nonlinear human dynamics of teaching and learning. Teens are pushed to practice longer and harder, study more or take more difficult classes, and be over-involved in too many activities.

At home, parents of teens are often working long after they arrive home, responding to emails or phone calls instead of being present at their kids’ games, events, or even dinner.

Soul work

Yes, it is important to work hard and do our best. Yes, many people need a push here or there to live out their potential. But no human can perform at 100 percent for 100 percent of the time. We all need rest, play, room to make mistakes — which is how we learn — and the safety of knowing our mistakes will not define us. Time and again God proves we are not defined by our past successes or failures. Instead, we are loved for how we love God and show God’s love to others.

Question of the day: Would God hire you?
Focal Scriptures: Matthew 16:13-23; Matthew 10:5-15; Exodus 20:8-11

For a complete lesson on this topic visit LinC.