Abbey-Roads2

Tom Smykowski - “Office Space”

Tom was let go from Initech but hit the jackpot after receiving a huge settlement following an auto accident. (Although, I’m pretty certain he could have gone with an age discrimination lawsuit.)

I was answering some email today and followed a link to a website that had grown out of a blog. The woman had been a web designer and was fired from her company for blogging about people she worked with. (It must have been unflattering.)

It reminded me of another woman a few months back who won a multi-million dollar lawsuit against another woman who blogged unfavorably about the litigant.

Of course, everyone has heard about people losing their jobs just for blogging at work - or wasting time on the internet. (Exceptions would include blogging for the company or with your manager’s permission.) Nevertheless, it can and does happen to people who blog on their own time yet write negatively about co-workers or the company. Bloggers beware.

Unless you want to be fired, but getting fired is so much about allowing other people to make decisions about your life.

Signs to watch out for if you suspect your job may be terminal:

1) Excommunication. This may begin with the employee’s excommunication of self.
- Dis-interest in one’s job, or company policy. (Psychological Equivalent* = Dissociative disorder.)
- Wasting time - on personal, non-work related projects. (PE = Obsessive compulsive disorder.)
- Playing at work, visiting and gossiping with other co-workers. Personal phone calls. (PE = ADD -attention deficit disorder.)
- Negative or combative behavior - it’s all about attitude. (PE = Clinical depression.)
- Complaining, complaining, complaining. (PE = Bitch)
- Coming in late, leaving early, absenteeism, taking long breaks. (PE = You don’t care.)

*Denotes possible disability claims if you are terminated.

When excommunication begins with management.
- No one talks to you.
- They talk about you.
- When they do speak, it is curt and business-like, with no interest in you personally.
- Your responsibilities are lessened or taken away.
- Your internet access is blocked.
- They take your stapler away.
- You are not included in meetings.
- If you are lucky, you get warning notices - that means you are not completely excommunicated and there is a chance to save your job.
- When you are repeatedly asked why you didn’t hand in your TPS report or accomplish other assignments.
- Finally, when you are asked, “What is it you actually do here?”
- Or, your office is moved to the boiler room.

How to know when excommunication is final.
- You are actually terminated.

Then maybe hope for a car accident to happen. Or maybe you can find a better job.

Media Fool.

Ted Haggard finally confessed that the allegations were true. It seems he has carried on a life long struggle with homosexual tendencies. Radio and TV comedians are mocking him because of his stand against same sex marriage. Many seem to be happy about his fall from grace.

I have tremendous respect for his coming to grips with this problem. He more or less thanked his accuser for exposing him as a liar and deceiver. This is a time of great grace for this man. I admire his public confession, devoid of theatrics, as well as his Church’s immediate acknowledgement and public statements regarding this man’s unfortunate circumstances.

As a religious man, he obviously struggled with the temptations of homosexuality, and failed at times. I do not think he is a hypocrite. A hypocrite is someone who lives a double life, willingly, with the intention to deceive. I believe Haggard struggled with sin, falling and rising, with sincere efforts to sin no more. What makes me think that? Because he so honestly confessed his guilt, albeit after a couple of days. The hypocrite would continue to lie and cover up the truth. He obviously loves his wife and family and was intent upon living a well ordered life. Again, his stand against same-sex marriage is not invalidated by his sins. He has proven his belief by trying to live his vocation as a husband and father. His efforts are the makings of heroic virtue.

The man sinned. God in His mercy has allowed this to be brought out into the public arena, I’m convinced good will come from it. Remember how St. John of the Cross warned against esteeming any man for his piety, “For the Devil will show you his faults.” Pastor Haggard has humbly bowed down under God’s mighty hand, he needs our prayers.

I question if perhaps his homosexuality may be considered purely episodic, which seems likely since his basic orientation is heterosexual. However, there also seems to be evidence it is compulsive and symptomatic, perhaps a means to sexually resolve conflict in his life. It may have it’s basis in some form of abuse or degradation in his youth, or something else that affected his sexual maturity. Being good looking never helps, as an element of narcissism often enters in. In my opinion, I suspect his condition is probably a combination of both criteria, episodic homosexuality complicated by compulsive and symptomatic homosexuality. I hope he deals with these questions and presents himself later to help other persons suffering from same-sex attraction.

Perhaps, like St. Peter, once he has recovered, he may help his brothers more powerfully than before. Ted Haggard is not the only married man who struggles with these temptations - the gay community would have men like Haggard leave their wives and embrace the gay lifestyle - that would be seriously wrong.

Ted Haggard and his family need our prayers.