Work for the Lord

July 12, 2026
 
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius
It's raining cats and dogs out and the coach says, “Allan, go out there to the baseball field and turn off the lights.”  Why is it that I must be the one nominated to go out into the pouring rain and risk my life running between lightning strikes?  With every lightning bolt, I looked like a pinball zig-zagging from the gymnasium to the baseball field.  Not only that, but I was also certain that, when I pulled the lever to turn off the lights, I would get electrocuted.  But hey, I’ll take one for the team!
 
When I worked at Rollies Food Center, there was an empty building next door.  One of the commodities, that Rollie kept in that building, was potatoes.  He probably had a hundred, 100 LB bags of potatoes.  On one hot sweltering day I hear this command.  “Allan, go next door and break those 100 LB bags of potatoes down into 10 LB bags.”  So, there I am in an 100° building bagging potatoes, many of which were rotten.
 
Why didn't the coach go out and turn off the lights?  He could have jumped in his car and gone around the block to turn them off.  No, he can't do that.  So, he sends me out into the rain for a three-block run.  Why couldn't Rollie go next door and bag up those stinky rotten potatoes?  No, he can't do that.  He sends me over to do that very unpleasant job.
 
From both of those experiences and others, I learned, that as a boss over someone else, not to ask that person to do something I am unwilling to do.  Even as pastor, I plunge the toilet, shovel the sidewalk, and so many other things, many of which are not in my job description.  Oh wait, do I have a job description? 😊
 
When it comes to work and doing things for others, I lean into this Bible verse from Colossians 3:23 (NASB).  “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.  It is the Lord Christ Whom you serve.”  If you are working for others, do your work as if working for the Lord, not for man.
 
Keep on smiling, even if you're bagging rotten, stinky potatoes.  
Pastor Allan
 
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