raising your little elephant

Chapter Twelve- Ethos or Ethics?

Can I? This is a question of ability and appeals to logic. Will I? This is a question of time or when. May I? This is a question of permission. Finally comes the hardest and perhaps most important but least popular question of all. Should I? To answer this question, it is always best to consult with the previous three questions, and then make a balanced decision based on the answers you receive from the other panelists. There is another peer in the room though. This other character will often override their advice. At first glance it appears to be a fellow question, but upon closer examination it uses words that should be in the form of a question but are actually in the form of a statement. It leads the decision with the phrase: What I want.

This question in the form of a statement was perhaps the greatest challenge Jesus of Nazareth ever faced. It was on the last night of his life on earth. This had never been a problem for him before. His relationship with his creator was so strong that what he wanted and what his father in heaven wanted had never previously diverged. What made this moment different was in the context of its execution. Jesus knew he could die to answer a question about the benevolence of using free-will responsibly. He also knew he would die to settle this issue. He likewise knew he had permission to do so from all parties involved. He also knew this action should take place for the sake of all creation. So, what was the problem? How do we know there was a problem? To answer this question let's take a look at what had led to quite possibly the most important moment in history. You may not be religious as you are reading this but bear with me for the sake of the narrative. After that take it as you see fit.

Jesus knew that his death would not be understood for its profound significance. This was not the problem. The real issue was the affect his death would have on his creator's reputation. Jesus was going to be labeled not as the savior of all humanity but as a blasphemer and a criminal deserving of death. These reproaches were very distasteful not because of some grandiose sense of pride on his part, but because it would be based on a lie that made him appear to be a proud man who had raised himself above God. This was more than he could bear. His anxiety over this became so great that he is reported to have began perspiring with what appeared to be blood mixed with sweat. This is an actual medical condition known as hematohidrosis. It can occur in rare instances where the individual is under extreme levels of stress. In this extreme moment of decision Jesus indicated that his desire or will differed from God's. In spite of this he said to his creator: "Let not my will but yours take place."

By making this choice he established a pillar that would be met with another pillar the next day at Three o'clock in the afternoon as he gave-up his last breath. By making this most ethical of decisions he was establishing ethos. His credibility was now beyond question. He could definitely be trusted to act without self-interest for the greater good of all. He absolutely was loving his neighbor and his God. His two wings were spread wide. His entire life-course led him to this moment. Pathos was also actively seated as the other leg or wing was extending to any who would listen. His story would lead many to follow his example like a roadmap. This irrefutable logic found in the Logos had revealed the true potential of using free-will responsibly.

How can we use this story in our everyday life? Our decisions may not always be based on the greater good, but for our choices to be ethical they must build the trust of others. Nowhere is this more obvious than in our business dealings. If greed, or money is the driving force in our life, we won't care who gets crushed in the path of progress. Never confuse ethics with economics. An employee is not a thing to be used and discarded when no longer useful. An employee is a person with a name who may have a family they are supporting. For example, in a Forty-hour work week you can make your employee work seven days a week with hours that don't result in overtime pay. This however, would be unethical because the benefits would be one sided only benefiting the employer. Eventually the employee will burn-out due to lack of proper rest.

In today's world of corporate me-firstism, ethics are becoming an unnecessary expense. Loop-holes are finding there way into laws that deny the rights of the individual worker while boosting the financial portfolio of the corporate investor or CEO. Phrases such as "not required to" have been put into practice as "not going to". This destroys the credibility (Ethos) of the employer. Workers are finding it is just easier to stay at home and collect an unemployment check which often pays better than the tight- fisted employer. After all there is no logic (Logos) in working for a paycheck when you can get one for free from the government. Employees are finding it increasingly difficult to buy into the story (Pathos) of a financial crisis when the company leaders show no personal interest in its loyal staff.

This sort of unethical behavior does not uplift anyone. Rationalizing away every greed-based policy change will only enrage the individual inner elephant of each disenfranchised employee. A century ago, this behavior led to the formation of trade-unions that demanded just and fair wages from the man in the proverbial "Hightower". Today such unions are often eroded by unethical union representatives that can easily be bought off by corporate elites. The upper managers of such corporations must come to understand that these cries for just and fair wages come from our inner seat of motivation. You might say the heart is involved. This truth can be ignored no longer. Without Ethos there can be no ethics. Without ethics there can be no progress. As the old saying goes: "A happy worker is a productive worker." So dear corporate reader, if productivity is down perhaps you need to stop focusing on the little rider on top and start figuring out how to make your employee's limbic system happy, because quite frankly, logic's not gonna cut it.

If you care more about your corporate overlords than you do about the employees that you see every day then you are in for a rude awakening one day when upper-management treats your own inner elephant with disrespect as a thank you for all your loyalty and hard work. Let's face it. If the almighty dollar is your god then you are worshiping a narcissist. Pick your denomination.

In the next chapter we are going to take these concepts into even deeper regions. This colossal beast has much still to teach us but we must deal with an issue that is the source of much of our internal conflict. As we explore this area of mental health, we will begin to cut the strings that may be holding us captive. It may explain why our approach to this topic may feel a bit wooden.