Community Post: The Day the Office Went to the Arcade

In my mid-twenties, I had the opportunity to work for a driven, high-tech information processing company. Teams of systems engineers, like myself, would spend countless months together, working 80 to 100 hours each week, to deliver software for new customer applications. We called those experiences “death marches.”

During one particular assignment, the senior executive recognized accumulating stress and growing poor morale among the group. One day, he said, “Let’s stop all the work, and have some fun.”

This executive provided lunch, and we spent the afternoon at an arcade. For that one day, we had down time, to essentially play. It also allowed us to talk to the boss in a casual atmosphere, to hear his views on why our work was important, and to understand what his expectations were. This executive knew that unbridled stress could result in lost productivity and could lead to poor delivery. Being vulnerable and approachable with the troops through “breaking bread” and playing air hockey increased our respect for the boss and for the job at hand. That next day, we came back to the office with a renewed spirit and a reenergized focus.

In Luke 24:13-33, we see how Jesus manages his staff with a little down time and conversation over a meal. His disciples had just spent three years with what they thought was the Messiah, only to see that person brutally executed at the hands of Roman soldiers. Jesus’ followers must have been confused and stressed regarding their work ahead. You could say they had just been through their own literal “death march.”

In the passage, we see Jesus adding a bit of levity to the situation as he begins walking with two disciples unannounced. With their heads hung low, it’s almost as if he could tap them on the shoulder and say, “Hey, look at me – it’s all good!”

Yet, Jesus doesn't do this. In fact, he spends the day with them in conversation about the events that have unfolded and their meaning. Finally, during a late meal, he reveals his identity to them. These men are reinvigorated. They cannot wait to return to Jerusalem to bear witness to Jesus’ resurrection.

Many of us (myself included) become too task-focused and lose sight of the big picture. In the work world, we become consumed with delivering value for our bosses, our companies, and our customers. This often leads to a myopic life focused on the next deliverable in the value chain. At home, we may choose to live out our faith through a rigorous schedule of prayer time in the morning, devotionals throughout the day, and men’s or women’s groups during the week.

In either situation, God comes along and whispers to us to take a breather, to go out and play a little. Sometimes, we miss the whisper, and God uses other means to grab our attention – perhaps a report of high blood pressure or a near-miss due to distracted driving. Bottom line, we need to listen when God calls us to take a break. With demands from our businesses and with what we think God wants us to do, it’s easy to miss that message.

I think I’ll leave my laptop now and go play a game. How about you?

Brian Newman is a process excellence fanatic with nearly 30 years of experience in Fortune 100 telecommunications and information technology companies. He can be contacted through the web site, http://www.about.me/briancnewman.

Play is not just for kids. If you are under pressure in your work, a spirit of play can lead to balance, creativity, and good health. In our hyper-productive world, we need to learn how to play again—at home, on the job, and even in worship. This article is part of our series The Work of Play. If someone you know needs to rediscover the joy of play, invite them to the conversation on The High Calling.