Career and Values: The Compromise
Most people, if not all, get to a point in their lives where they must make a compromise between their values and their career. Some are lucky enough not to have to face that, but if you do, how do you know where to draw the line? Darrel Janz is a news broadcaster who has had to face this type of situation. In an interview with him, I had the opportunity to hear his life story and get a glimpse of the challenges he faces as a local celebrity, and what it means to keep your values and beliefs, even when your career asks you to give them up.
For the love of the fame
Darrel sought his news broadcasting endeavors because of his high school teacher’s suggestion to go into the field. Having taught him English and Social Studies, this teacher knew Darrel’s abilities in reading and writing, as well as his interest in History. After high school, Darrel landed a job at a radio station in Moose Jaw as a news broadcaster. Then he moved into news reporting and anchoring at a TV news station in Saskatchewan. From there, he went to Montreal to be an anchor and then to Calgary to be a news broadcaster for CFCN. As one of the most recognized TV personalities in the city, he has been there for 32 years.
Darrel admits that he loved the attention he got in his career and that the fame was a part of what he was after. He was not able to give up his career for anything such as his own beliefs and values at the time. As a child in Vacation Bible School, he believed in Jesus but never really had a relationship with him. In fact, in the first 15 years of his career, he was scared of going back to God and starting a relationship with him. He feared that if he did, he’d be asked to give up his job. And he wasn’t ready to give up his career as a news broadcaster.
But God kept tugging at his heart and Darrel felt God’s presence. The feeling confirmed God’s existence and how much Darrel needed him. Darrel knew that there was a God out there and that Jesus Christ was very real and still is today—the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins. He felt lost and knew he needed Christ. It finally got to point where he had to overcome his fear and be ready to leave the business if God asked.
But God didn’t ask him to give up his job…
When Darrel surrendered everything to God, even his career, he finally found freedom. Freedom because his career wasn’t the be all and end all anymore; he wasn’t living for his job, but for God.
Drawing the line
When it comes to compromising his values with his career, Darrel has learned to draw the line. A person without a foundation of morals or values will end up falling in the end or letting something else control him. Once, Darrel had to decide if he thought it was okay to have some obscene language on air. He insisted that their network was a family network and that the news was also viewed by many young people. He was ready and willing to put his job on the line because he believed so strongly that the obscene language was inappropriate. In the end, the network did not air the obscene language and to this day, Darrel does not doubt standing by his morals on this.
To Darrel, true success means having a vibrant relationship with the Lord. Without that, he would not have the foundation for standing by his beliefs. When we compromise our values, we are lost. Darrel believes that without God, he would not be where he is today as a senior anchor. Yes, it is difficult at times when people know you are a Christian and watch you like a hawk, but Darrel can always count on his relationship with God at the end of the day.
What do you stand by?
If you’ve ever felt lost, or controlled by your career, your old habits, what people think, etc., you are not alone. Jesus Christ died on the cross so that we could be free from the shackles that bound us. He offers a relationship with God that no career or amount of money can give you.
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.
