Pray, I ask you, for those who must put numbers to paper, or, because we live in an on-line on-demand multi-networked world, pray for those who enter numbers into databases and spreadsheets, especially those who must show number-based improvement month after month, year after year, or lose any hope of promotion if not their jobs. Pray for those who must make their numbers fit production targets to satisfy those above them and, eventually, satisfy us, we who demand improvement. God have mercy on a world of numbers untethered from fact, a world where holding steady is no longer acceptable, where losing ground is an institutional sin.
Photo of rusty nails and screws, and a bright red gardenia blossom.
Photo copyright 2017 and text 2019 by Danny N. Schweers.
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Comments
Dave Von Bieker wrote:
Boy oh boy does this one resonate with me these days while I’m working in digital marketing! [Danny says: check out Dave's website at http://www.vonbieker.com/ to learn more about his bow tie music and his efforts to get it into the ears of many.]
Christina wrote:
As the mother of a tax accountant for the State of NY, I appreciate this piece and will send it along to her! Great work as always – and congratulations on Austin!
Alice wrote:
Oh boy, this one hit a nerve with me. There are many wonderful ways to measure and celebrate real success and progress.
Donna wrote:
Very striking image, Danny!
Roberta wrote:
:-)
Lloyd wrote:
Thank you! Right on time.
THE AUTHOR REPLIED:
Thanks for your comments on last week’s prayer about numbers unconnected to reality. The prayer was inspired by a walking buddy who works for a multi-national corporation with fixed production targets, meaning he and his colleagues fudge numbers, bend them, to meet those targets. His numbers are not totally made up, but their connection to reality is tenuous, as are, I assume, his company’s sales reports generally, and perhaps many industry sales reports. When I learned calculus, I learned about imaginary numbers, numbers based on the square root of minus one. I fear that our civilization’s bookkeeping is using a different kind of imaginary number.
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