Bring Advent To Work Today
Is your workplace decorated for Christmas - er, I mean the "holiday season"? Is your company throwing a Christmas - sorry, holiday - party this year?
Here in New York City, when you walk to your office in the morning, or go out for lunch or a meeting, or walk back to the bus or train at the end of the day, you're surrounded by decorations. Sure, most of this stuff is meant to get you to buy things. But, still - call it whatever you want - you start to get that "Christmas feeling." We've even got a radio station that plays Christmas music 24/7 starting around Thanksgiving (actually starting the weekend before Thanksgiving this year!).
Nothing wrong with all that. Christmas really is the "most wonderful time of the year." But still, sometimes it's hard to remember that it's Advent.
This used to drive me nuts. I mean how can you expect me to keep Advent when I'm surrounded by all Christmas sights and sounds?
So that's why I'm trying to take a "penitential" approach to my work this Advent. I talked a little about this last week when I mentioned the importance of preparation. Now let's extend that. I'm talking about all that stuff that you really don't like to do.
We've all got things at work that just aren't our favorite activities.
Some of us can't stand dealing with detail. We like to think of ourselves as "big picture types." Why can't someone else prepare this expense report and just leave me alone to think big thoughts?
Some of us like slaving away at spread sheets and would prefer not interacting with other people. Just leave me alone. I'm not here to solve your problems. I just want to crunch my numbers.
Some of us bosses fly off the handle at an employee, even if they haven't done anything wrong. Hey, we're under a lot of pressure, and they just crossed our path at the wrong time. Too bad. I'm the boss.
So here we all are in Advent with a perfect set-up to use our work as a form of penance. The "big picture" guy makes up his mind to do that paperwork perfectly. The number geek goes out of her way to be friendly and helpful to that co-worker who could use a hand. The boss not only tries to hold his temper but - gulp - apologizes if he flies off the handle for no good reason.
Yes, it can be difficult, even painful for some of us. But that's the whole point. You do it; you offer it up. You just brought Advent to work with you.
Sure, observing Advent these days can be hard, especially when the rest of the world decided that Christmas starts on Thanksgiving. But it's doable.
And one of the best places for us Catholic men at work to observe Advent well is right here at work.
So pick something out that really challenges you at work:
And if the rest of the world thinks Christmas began on Thanksgiving, well you know better. So enjoy all the sights and sounds. (You almost can't help it some days, right?) Just don't forget it's Advent.
Here in New York City, when you walk to your office in the morning, or go out for lunch or a meeting, or walk back to the bus or train at the end of the day, you're surrounded by decorations. Sure, most of this stuff is meant to get you to buy things. But, still - call it whatever you want - you start to get that "Christmas feeling." We've even got a radio station that plays Christmas music 24/7 starting around Thanksgiving (actually starting the weekend before Thanksgiving this year!).
Nothing wrong with all that. Christmas really is the "most wonderful time of the year." But still, sometimes it's hard to remember that it's Advent.
This used to drive me nuts. I mean how can you expect me to keep Advent when I'm surrounded by all Christmas sights and sounds?
So that's why I'm trying to take a "penitential" approach to my work this Advent. I talked a little about this last week when I mentioned the importance of preparation. Now let's extend that. I'm talking about all that stuff that you really don't like to do.
We've all got things at work that just aren't our favorite activities.
Some of us can't stand dealing with detail. We like to think of ourselves as "big picture types." Why can't someone else prepare this expense report and just leave me alone to think big thoughts?
Some of us like slaving away at spread sheets and would prefer not interacting with other people. Just leave me alone. I'm not here to solve your problems. I just want to crunch my numbers.
Some of us bosses fly off the handle at an employee, even if they haven't done anything wrong. Hey, we're under a lot of pressure, and they just crossed our path at the wrong time. Too bad. I'm the boss.
So here we all are in Advent with a perfect set-up to use our work as a form of penance. The "big picture" guy makes up his mind to do that paperwork perfectly. The number geek goes out of her way to be friendly and helpful to that co-worker who could use a hand. The boss not only tries to hold his temper but - gulp - apologizes if he flies off the handle for no good reason.
Yes, it can be difficult, even painful for some of us. But that's the whole point. You do it; you offer it up. You just brought Advent to work with you.
Sure, observing Advent these days can be hard, especially when the rest of the world decided that Christmas starts on Thanksgiving. But it's doable.
And one of the best places for us Catholic men at work to observe Advent well is right here at work.
So pick something out that really challenges you at work:
- Maybe it's something you're responsible for that you hate doing: Do that task well, thoroughly, even cheerfully if you can manage it.
- Maybe it's taking the time to say, "Good morning," or lend a helping hand instead of just burying your head in your computer screen.
- Maybe it's digging deep and being charitable to your employees instead of grouchy, no matter how many demands the business is making on your today.
And if the rest of the world thinks Christmas began on Thanksgiving, well you know better. So enjoy all the sights and sounds. (You almost can't help it some days, right?) Just don't forget it's Advent.
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