Ranell’s Best?
“Did you do your best, Josef?”
“You know I did, Father,” Ranell replied somewhat more defensively than he’d intended. “The demands of this job have put too much strain on us. Something had to give.”
Mendoza was quiet on the phone for a long moment. Finally, he said, “Better to be a poor person who has integrity than to be rich and double-dealing.”
“What do you mean by that, Father?” Ranell was shocked, “I haven’t done anything shady!”
“I know, I know, Josef,” Mendoza chuckled gently. “That is from the Bible. Proverbs 28:6.”
“How does that apply to me?”
“I know you to be a man of strong moral character. You’ve been under such tremendous pressure for so long, I’ve been worried about you.” Mendoza paused for a long time, and Ranell could tell he had more to say.
Finally, Mendoza continued, “Perhaps you have been pursuing something that runs contrary to God’s will for you. Consider this question: What would you do with your life if you could stop thinking about pursuing wealth?”
“If money wasn’t an issue?” Ranell asked rhetorically, as if trying on the idea for the first time. “I really wouldn’t know… maybe it’s time for me to quit this job. Although I have no idea how I would make it in this economy.” Even imagining working without the perpetual backdrop of financial gain and loss felt like exercising a long-unused muscle. All I really know how to do is logistics.
“You don’t have to quit your job,” Mendoza clarified. “I’m just asking you to get in touch with your deeper sense of purpose.”
Through his hotel window, Ranell gazed longingly at the gray clouds backlit with indescribable gold and purple hues now from the Pacific sunset. This work is getting old, he thought, and so am I. “No, Father. I think I do need to quit my job.”
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