Are You "Connected" at Work?
Connections can be important in our work. Many of us find jobs through our connections. We may network with our personal and business connections to build our businesses or careers. But at some point, ideally, our work isn't just about our connections. At some point, we merit our success in some way.
I've met many people who never get beyond the connections in their lives. They ride along on where they come from, whose son or daughter they are, what college they attended, in short their "pedigree." If you're like this, or work with people like this, I hope you see the potential problem this presents if not for your work life, then for your soul at some point.
And at some point, by the grace of God, no matter how we got our job, no matter who we know, no matter what our pedigree might be (indeed even if our success comes from merit), we need to recognize that everything good we do, everything good about us, comes from God. We recognize this and we live in the knowledge that God is the source of all good, specifically the source of all that is good about us.
If you don't get this now, and live your life accordingly, it's time to begin to pray and meditate until you do. If you need a kick-start, try this from The Rule of St. Benedict. Here he encourages the Abbot of a monastery to see everyone in his charge as equal, despite their "connections."
Get beyond your connections, if you're hung up there. Put your mind to your work and work hard, for the glory of God - Ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
What creeps into your soul if you don't is exactly what you don't want - especially if you don't suffer from it now. We'll look at this problem next time...
I've met many people who never get beyond the connections in their lives. They ride along on where they come from, whose son or daughter they are, what college they attended, in short their "pedigree." If you're like this, or work with people like this, I hope you see the potential problem this presents if not for your work life, then for your soul at some point.
And at some point, by the grace of God, no matter how we got our job, no matter who we know, no matter what our pedigree might be (indeed even if our success comes from merit), we need to recognize that everything good we do, everything good about us, comes from God. We recognize this and we live in the knowledge that God is the source of all good, specifically the source of all that is good about us.
If you don't get this now, and live your life accordingly, it's time to begin to pray and meditate until you do. If you need a kick-start, try this from The Rule of St. Benedict. Here he encourages the Abbot of a monastery to see everyone in his charge as equal, despite their "connections."
Let him make no distinction of persons in the monastery. Let him not love one more than another, unless it be one whom he findeth more exemplary in good works and obedience. Let not a free-born be preferred to a freedman, unless there be some other reasonable cause. But if from a just reason the Abbot deemeth it proper to make such a distinction, he may do so in regard to the rank of anyone whomsoever; otherwise let everyone keep his own place; for whether bond or free, we are all one in Christ, and we all bear an equal burden of servitude under on Lord, "for there is no respect of persons with God." We are distinguished with Him in this respect alone, if we are found to excel others in good works and in humility. Therefore, let him have equal charity for all, and impose a uniform discipline for all according to merit.
Get beyond your connections, if you're hung up there. Put your mind to your work and work hard, for the glory of God - Ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
What creeps into your soul if you don't is exactly what you don't want - especially if you don't suffer from it now. We'll look at this problem next time...
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