Christmas & Contagious Joy
According to a 2016 article in Harvard Business Review, most organizations don't realize how central human emotions are to building the right culture. When businesses talk about "corporate culture," they are typically referring to a kind of shared "cognitive culture": similar values, norms, and assumptions that allow a group to function effectively. But what about the impact of people's emotions in the workplace, at school, at church, in our communities, and at home?
As much as concepts like "emotional intelligence" are now part of the conversation, most bosses still choose to ignore emotional culture. It's messy, difficult to track, and even harder to manage, particularly when a manager has no training. But "every organization has an emotional culture, even if it's one of suppression," the article continues:
"Leaders expect to influence how people think and behave on the job, but they may feel ill equipped to understand and actively manage how employees feel and express their emotions at work. Or they may regard doing so as irrelevant, not part of their job, or unprofessional."
As Christians, we know that our emotions are a God-given gift, and we are responsible for turning to Christ as we learn to manage them well. Because our culture tends to suppress emotions, the truth of who we are and how we are responding often lies between the sentences we speak and the stories we tell. As an example, have you ever paused to consider the depth of emotion in our Christmas story?
When you have space this week, consider Luke 2:1-20 with a fresh lens, taking time to imagine the many emotions at play both within the narrative and between the sentences of the story:
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)3And everyone went to their own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
As you move through your week, take note of your own emotions, the emotions of those around you, and the spaces where unaddressed emotions may linger. As the authors of the Harvard Business Review article argue, people tend to "catch" emotions from one another. How will you make a point of spreading a bit of contagious joy this week?
May the Lord bless your Christmas celebration with peace and remarkable joy,
Jennie