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This is a study linking an interesting research project many years ago called “The Hawthorne Effect”, to an important spiritual principle regarding the same concept, (which until now has really gone un-named!)

I stumbled upon discovering this old research project by my interest in The Eastland Disaster, which occurred on July 24^th 1915 in Chicago. (My grandmother was on that ship and survived, but 844 people didn’t).

The Eastland was a ship that was charted to take some of the many thousands of employees of Western Electric, and their families, across Lake Michigan for the huge annual picnic. This particular plant of Western Electric was the huge “Hawthorne Plant” at Cermak & Cicero in Cicero Illinois, which is where the project research was first conducted, and hence the name – The Hawthorne Effect.

The Hawthorne Effect research project really had nothing to do with the terrible disaster, but I came across it during my surfing the web on all things dealing with Eastland-Western Electric-Hawthorn.

Note: I am also very aware that this concept that I am about to discuss, is also one that seems to be a very real reality within quantum mechanics! For those who are more science-based, you will know that within the quantum world of the very, very small, particles seem to know when they are being observed! Physicists have determined that these particles have no pre-determined state that they exist in....that is...until they are observed...then they quickly appear as one or the other. This strange and absurd behavior was mockingly described by one physicist who came up with an imaginary scenario entitled, "Schrodinger's Cat". Although I will not be getting into this aspect, it is very much related, and will have to wait for a future writing! JB

Now that I have established that brief background, here is another brief summary concerning just what the Hawthorne Effect project was all about.

The process by which the actual behavior of people are altered because they know that they are the subjects being observed and studied.

In other words, the very act of measurement itself impacts the results of the measurement! (In science, the actual dipping of a thermometer into a vial of liquid, can effect the temperature of the liquid being measured)

It is the act of collecting data, where none was collected before, and thereby creating a situation that also didn’t exist before, which in turn changes the results!

Initially it was called “The Hawthorne Experiments” and they were conducted 1927-1932 at the Hawthorne Works Plant of Western Electric in Cicero. They were done by a well known, at the time, Harvard professor named, Elton Mayo. Specifically, he wanted to discover exactly what effect that fatigue and monotony had on job productivity.

After a long series of tests involving monitoring breaks, work day variation and a variety of work load and other conditions, the conclusion was always the same:

Regardless of the experimental manipulation, worker productivity seemed to always improve!

This didn’t make any sense! Worker productivity should vary when presented with a variety of work conditions! But a small group of workers had been selected and agreed to take part in the study. They began to develop a bond among themselves that was not there before, and seemed to become happy that they were chosen out of many thousands to be a part of an important research project. By being a part of the study, it made them feel more special, more significant, more important, and because of that, regardless of the work conditions, their work output increased!

This is what is now known as “The Hawthorn Effect”! (This is also sometimes called, “The Somebody Upstairs Cares Syndrome”.)

OK, I think you already know where I am going with this, but go with me anyway! It is an incredible link that I feel needs to become known, and as far I know, nobody has ever made this connection before. (So I am either way off, weird, and crazy – or really on to something…or a little of both!)

This point may seem quite elementary, but how many people, even dedicated believers, really believe this?! Oh, many of us know this is true and that it is clearly spelled out all through the Bible, but it seems to be one of those truths that falls through the cracks when it comes to real life, practical, day to day living.

Just imagine how our lives would change if we did really believe this! I think The Hawthorne Effect is solid proof that simply knowing that we are selected out, and observed for a purpose, can have wonderful results!

For all three of my spiritual application points I also want to focus on at least one Biblical passage to help us move forward in this idea.

The very first place in the Bible where it specifically mentions God seeing us is found in Genesis 16:13. Abraham’s maiden, Hagar, is fleeing his house due to the bad mistake of bearing his child, an arrangement made by his wife, Sarah, who was barren. (If you don’t know the story, it gets quite sorted and sounds more like a modern bad movie.)

Anyway, she ends up in the desert and is ready to die, along with her unborn child, when the Lord finds her and rescues her! She is so grateful for God’s amazing help, in that he would actually come down and be concerned with her and her child, that she calls him by a new name; Yaweh Raah – literally;

THE GOD WHO SEES. Then as if that wasn’t enough, she names the spring/well near this meeting; Beer Lahai Roi – which literally means – THE WELL OF THE LIVING ONE WHO SEES ME. (This is also the first mention of beer in the Bible…please don’t write me letters…it’s only a joke)

Once she realized that this was the Lord, and he actually cares deeply for her, and actually sees her every move, it seems to have had a huge impact on her life! If you keep reading, she goes back to submit to Sarah and Abraham, even though it meant possible further shame, insult and harsh treatment for both herself and her son who would be born months later.

Of course, there are hundreds and hundreds of other scriptures which all tell us the same thing, that God is personal, he is involved with every aspect of our lives, and not only sees our lives….but he sees our hearts! God knows every detail of every thought even before we have that thought! He sees every sparrow fall, and he is very well acquainted with our every move! But I must move on to my next point (Yes, God even knew that!)

We have already seen the change of behavior affected in Hagar by the realization that God sees her, but I want to focus now on another brief account which also clearly shows this truth.

In the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when he was calling his disciples to follow him, there is an interesting account in John 1:47-51;

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him,” Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.” Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that. “He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

In almost every commentary of this text, it is stated that “being under the fig tree” was basically the place for a shady spot to study, meditate and seek God. While that may be true, I have always felt that there is something much more here in this text! Read it again – there is something very special about Nathanael’s particular encounter under the fig tree, and the fact that Jesus knew of this and saw him there, (When he was probably alone) had a tremendous impact on him! He immediately declares Jesus to be The Son of God and the King of Israel! If Jesus had just mentioned, “Yeah I saw you a while back when you were over there reading under that fig tree, so I kind of know who you are”, it would not have resulted in Nathanael’s amazing declaration!

So what is going on here? I personally believe that Jesus is saying something more like this; “Nathanael, I know who you are; it was me who saw you during that encounter you had with God under the fig tree. In fact, your divine encounter was with me, I not only saw you, but I was there, and know all about it, even though nobody else does and you have not told anyone about it.”

Note: It is very possible that part of Nathanael's God-encounter was also tied to the rest of Jesus' statement, namely, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man". Nathanael could have been reading Genesis 28:12 - 15 about Jacob's ladder which went up to heaven with the angels of God ascending and descending on it. Possibly he sat there and wondered what this ladder actually was, possibly he even asked God to reveal it to him, and just possibly, God spoke to him and said, "You will receive the answer to this ladder soon, in fact, the ladder himself will find you! (I believe that this ancient ladder was actually a clear type of Christ) Regardless, Nathanael most likely had a God-encounter under that tree, and Jesus knew all about it because he was the very God Nathanael encountered!

I can think back to my own divine first encounter back in 1976 in Columbus Ohio. Just about anyone can come up to me now and say, “I saw you once in Columbus by the university, or on the steps of that one club, or walking down the street.” It would really be no big deal, there were a lot of people always around and the odds are good that I may run into someone from back then at any time. However, if someone says to me, “ I saw you that night when you were sitting along Mirror Lake, when you were seeking God with all your heart and repenting and weeping, I not only saw you, but I was there and know all about it”. THAT would be simply amazing and literally a miracle! Because nobody was there except me, and God, and although I have told you the general encounter, there are still many details which only God knows about. If this person began to mention any of that, it would produce an incredible behavior change in me! I would forever be changed by further confirmation that God sees me, he cares about me, and knows all about me.(Even though I already know that, this would further solidify and enhance it)

So my belief is that Jesus brought up a very special God-moment that had been very special, and probably private, to Nathanael. Since nobody else knew about it except God and himself, his natural response is that this must be “The Son of God” and “The King of Israel”, which is exactly his statement!

God saw him, God sees him, God saw all of us during every moment of our lives and God continues to see us now. If we really believed that, I believe it would forever change our lives and behavior.

My final point in this study is linked with the previous two, God sees us – by knowing that fact changes us – now the question is how do we respond?

I believe that our lives are really a stewardship, and we are all responsible to both God and other people for three things that every one of us have;

Even if you don’t have much money, or very little talents or skills, chances are that this is the area in which you can serve – time! We don’t serve time itself, but we serve God and people, and that takes time! Some people have large amounts of time on their hands due to retirement, some handicap, or just a great job which allows them to work only a minimum of hours and excess time left over.

If you can figure out how to do any of these things without committing great amounts of your time, let me know! They all take time to do!

The same author, Paul, knew this well and earnestly desired to spend large amounts of time with others, and even stated this desire:

“I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit. I hope to spend some time with you if the Lord permits. “I Corinthians 16:7

There are many other passages which teach this concept, but I think the point is made, now on to the next.

In speaking of individual gifting that we all have, Peter says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” I Peter 4:10

The true Biblical teaching in many places is that ALL of us have some gifts! SOME of us have many gifts, but NONE of us have NO gifts! I believe we should all live by this statement:

Whatever gift/gifts that you possess are meant for you to serve others directly, and in doing so, you are serving God indirectly. Give it away, so you can receive more.

I tell people often that I write studies like this, and teach a Bible class for really selfish reasons…..I believe that if I don’t give away what I know and have, I can never hope to receive any new things or gifts from God! I would much rather be a vessel than a bottle, (Go ahead and quote me on that one)

Ouch…this one can hurt the most! But the Biblical teaching on treasure (money) is quite extensive and Jesus seemed to go out of his way to make it hard to ignore!

One of the best scriptures on it is found in Matthew 25:14-30 in the Parable of the Talents. (A talent first a unit of measure or weight, then later it became coinage or wealth, as it was during Jesus’ day. One talent was approx. 1000 dollars. When we refer to talent, we think of ability or gifts, and that can be traced back to this passage.)

Please read the scripture text as it speaks for itself! What was Jesus teaching here? Clearly, we are NOT to bury our talents, but put them in the bank and gain interest, (give then away serving others and God).

The early church in Acts excelled in this and gave all that they had to the church!

In a sense, we should always consider that everything we have, in both money and possessions, is all God’s and not ours. God has allowed us to use them, and we should be giving back at least ten percent of the wealth, and some of our possessions for kingdom purposes. If we really believe it is all God’s in the first place, it won’t be very difficult to be generous with it!

I have tried to present conclusive evidence for the spiritual benefits of this historic study, The Hawthorne Effect. I believe that all believers should pray and seek God’s help to open our spiritual eyes to know, and really know, that God is watching! His eyes see everything! If we can even grasp just a tiny portion of that truth, it can be life-changing!

This concept is not new! Many years ago a little known monk lived and wrote of this beautiful mindset, his name was Brother Lawrence. You can easily do a search for his name, or book, “Practicing the Presence”, and it can be found freely posted on he internet, and very well worth reading.

Please take some time to also read many of my writings posted here, especially, “The Magnificent Mundane”. It is a five chapter E-book which highlights this concept, and is really the main idea behind this entire web site.