I shared cans of fizzy water with the CEO of a technology company recently. A serial entrepreneur, this CEO has started numerous businesses over the years. Many were successful. Many were not.  This latest venture was a sleepy, business technology company, waking up to large potential.  While I don’t begin to understand the technology, what I did gather was that this tool was designed to be simple, clean and highly intuitive.  It sat on top of a larger, more complex piece of software that, while powerful, was not easy to use thus negating its inherent value.  

Over the course of our hour together, we talked about how shared experiences working in both vocational ministry and in the marketplace.  “Good design is an act of worship,” he offered. I was struck.  What makes this CEO's statement about design as worship compelling is that he had an early career in a church setting.  He was, as I understand it, a professional Christian.  His job was to worship and to lead worship in some form.  For a number of reasons, he switched careers and joined the marketplace.  

He understands design.  He designs technology and business models and funding structures and company cultures.  He understands the functional elements of addressing a problem and indexes on the side of solutions through graceful excellence.  He understands work and the role work plays in worship (as did Coltrane after writing his Opus).  

Why then, does he feel more aligned to the Creator in software than in church? Because those are his gifts. Because he is made imago Dei, in the image of the Creator.  Design is part of his DNA and to design is to align himself with God’s design for his life.  He still believes in God in the same way that he did as a minister, yet his expression of worship and gratitude different.  He cares for people through simplicity rather than charity and guides people to excellence rather than the altar.  Each has their place and this man knew his: design well, profit, give, serve, lead, employ, grow, steer, advise, teach. Be.  

I’m grateful for the guidance and that he worships well.