Dear Ms. Theologian,

I hate my job. Should I quit or stay?

–Hates my Job

Dear He/She Who Phrases Things Simply,

This is the sort of question that I thought I liked. No complicated scenario to sort through, no Broomhilda the Heinous Coworker, no Money Issues raised. Just an either-or situation.

I could just say “Quit!” In fact, in my first draft, I did say just that.

But then I started thinking that sometimes when we want a certain answer, we phrase a question a certain way. For example,

Do you love me?
Do these jeans make my butt look big?
You’re paying, right?

Hence, my hesitation to answer your question simply. I’ll give you a theological answer.

At first glance in Kierkegaard’s Either/Or, we might think that he was claiming that all decisions are dichotomous. But alas he is not. Kierkegaard understood irony. It’s never either/or. It’s just that most of the time we can’t see a third or fourth or fifth option.

So should you quit your job? Maybe. Maybe you should embrace your job whole heartedly. Maybe you should develop a hobby that truly gives you pleasure. Maybe you should finish your novel (ahem). Maybe you should stop IMing at work so that you don’t have to stay late and hence hate it.

But it’s never Either/Or, ma chere,

-Ms. Theologian

P.S. If you would like to write a letter to Ms. Theologian relating spirituality and workplace issues, send an email to ms dot theologian at gmail dot com.