We spend more waking hours with our coworkers than with almost anyone else. So we are often the first to notice when something is wrong. Someone who was cheerful has gone quiet. They are late, tired, or close to tears at their desk. Many of us notice and say nothing, because work feels like the wrong place.
Jesus met one of his closest friends at work, on a very bad day.
A night with nothing
Simon Peter was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee, a big lake in the north of the country. One night he and his partners fished all night and caught nothing. In the morning they were washing their nets, tired and empty-handed.
Jesus was teaching a crowd on the shore. He got into Peter's boat and asked him to push out a little from the land so he could speak. When he finished, he told Peter to go out into deep water and let down the nets.
The Gospel of Luke, one of the four accounts of Jesus's life, records Peter's answer.
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
Luke 5:5 · King James VersionThe original Greek
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς Σίμων εἶπεν· Ἐπιστάτα, διʼ ὅλης νυκτὸς κοπιάσαντες οὐδὲν ἐλάβομεν, ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ ῥήματί σου χαλάσω τὰ δίκτυα.
Found in Papyrus 75 (about AD 200), Codex Vaticanus (about AD 325), Codex Sinaiticus (about AD 350).
Where the King James Version has "the net," the oldest copies have "the nets."
He was tired and discouraged, but he did it. The nets filled with so many fish they began to tear. That day Peter left his boat to follow Jesus.
Jesus did not wait for Peter to come to church. He met him at work, in the middle of a failed night.
Ways to help
Notice. Changes in mood, energy, appearance or work quality can mean something is wrong outside of work.
Ask privately. A quiet "You seem worn out lately. Are you okay?" away from others. Do not push if they do not want to talk.
Listen, and keep it confidential. What they share is not office news.
Help with the work. Cover a shift, take a task off their plate, or help them meet a deadline.
Point them to support. Many workplaces have an employee assistance program with free, private counseling. Help them find it.
Include them. Invite them to lunch. Small kindnesses at work matter a lot.
Know the crisis line. If a coworker talks about not wanting to live, in the United States call or text 988 with them, or get help right away.
The person who notices
Peter's worst night became the morning his life changed, because someone climbed into his boat. You may be the person at work who notices a coworker sinking. A quiet question and a coffee could be the start of something good.