Undercover Boss

There is a brand new TV show
about some corporate CEOs
who trade their corner offices
for entry-level jobs.

They shed their suits for workman shirts
to understand the stress and hurts
of those who punch a clock each day
without a salary.

These self-effacing CEOs
by dressing up like common Joes
discover first-hand how it feels
to not have any perks.

Such big shots (most think strict and stern)
reveal compassion as they learn
the toll that daily hardships take
before the week is through.

By taking on such toil and strife
and giving up their privileged life,
they make a way to bring about
what only they can do.

But lest you think this concept new,
it blossomed from a seed that grew
within the heart of One called God
whose image we all bear.

He sent an "Undercover Boss"
who ditched His crown to claim a cross
and chose to lay aside His rights
to understand my plight.

But this was more than empathy.
The King of Kings would die for me.
He took my place that I might live.
Promotion now is mine!

* This poem is based on the new CBS series called Undercover Boss where CEOs of well-known American corporations disguise themselves as entry-level employees to understand firsthand what the average worker in his company experiences. As I watched the first episode after the Super Bowl, I couldn't help but think of the Bible passage in which St. Paul suggests the premise of Undercover Boss is nothing new. That's exactly what our Creator did in coming to earth to experience our human condition. In Christ, He put on our work clothes and earned our salvation.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8)