A Fresh Start for 2017
In business, it's good to take a fresh look at things from time to time.
The guy who runs things, whether the whole company or a piece of it, takes a step back: What can we do better? Let's look at our sales and marketing, our operations, our systems. Where can we improve?
The professional who provides a service - accountant, attorney, consultant, financial planner, etc. - considers how they deliver their services: Are we conscientiously, comprehensively, ethically providing our clients with services they value? Are we responsive to their needs? If so, do we charge enough for our time? Do our employees demonstrate a belief in the value of what we provide in the way they communicate with our clients?
Workers (blue or white collar) might consider how they can add more value to their company: Do I fully understand my company's products and services, how they benefit our customers? Are there new skills I can acquire to both increase my value to the company and help us to better deliver our products and services?
If you want to make a fresh start, these first days of January remind us that the New Year can be a good time for it. But shouldn't they also remind us that it's a good time to step back and take a look at our relationship to God? After all, what difference will success in our business or our career make if we're not right with God? The New Year's a good time to remember that and do whatever needs doing.
Do I make time for God each day: time for prayer, for reading Holy Scripture, studying the doctrines of my Catholic Faith and how to live consistently with these? Have I been to confession recently; do I go regularly? Am I spending a few minutes each day reading good spiritual works in order to grow closer to God? Maybe I can get to Mass not only on Sunday, but some time during the week as well - maybe even daily Mass.
Now a really fresh start in this New Year might consist of our finally bringing God to work with us each day. Instead of keeping Him at arm's length during the work day, invite Our Lord into our daily work. No need to dilly-dally here. Get right on it. Now. After all we know how He Himself worked until He began His public life of preaching the Good News during those few years leading to His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. He provides us with the best example of how to live our lives, and that includes how we apply ourselves to our work. Why not invite Him to work with us each day, to be our guide, our "go to" person when we need advice, the first person we turn to when we celebrate whatever success we achieve?
Of course, it's one thing to say we're going to invite Him to work with us each day; yet another thing to really want this. What would "really want" look and feel like? Psalm 41 tells us:
The guy who runs things, whether the whole company or a piece of it, takes a step back: What can we do better? Let's look at our sales and marketing, our operations, our systems. Where can we improve?
The professional who provides a service - accountant, attorney, consultant, financial planner, etc. - considers how they deliver their services: Are we conscientiously, comprehensively, ethically providing our clients with services they value? Are we responsive to their needs? If so, do we charge enough for our time? Do our employees demonstrate a belief in the value of what we provide in the way they communicate with our clients?
Workers (blue or white collar) might consider how they can add more value to their company: Do I fully understand my company's products and services, how they benefit our customers? Are there new skills I can acquire to both increase my value to the company and help us to better deliver our products and services?
If you want to make a fresh start, these first days of January remind us that the New Year can be a good time for it. But shouldn't they also remind us that it's a good time to step back and take a look at our relationship to God? After all, what difference will success in our business or our career make if we're not right with God? The New Year's a good time to remember that and do whatever needs doing.
Do I make time for God each day: time for prayer, for reading Holy Scripture, studying the doctrines of my Catholic Faith and how to live consistently with these? Have I been to confession recently; do I go regularly? Am I spending a few minutes each day reading good spiritual works in order to grow closer to God? Maybe I can get to Mass not only on Sunday, but some time during the week as well - maybe even daily Mass.
Now a really fresh start in this New Year might consist of our finally bringing God to work with us each day. Instead of keeping Him at arm's length during the work day, invite Our Lord into our daily work. No need to dilly-dally here. Get right on it. Now. After all we know how He Himself worked until He began His public life of preaching the Good News during those few years leading to His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. He provides us with the best example of how to live our lives, and that includes how we apply ourselves to our work. Why not invite Him to work with us each day, to be our guide, our "go to" person when we need advice, the first person we turn to when we celebrate whatever success we achieve?
Of course, it's one thing to say we're going to invite Him to work with us each day; yet another thing to really want this. What would "really want" look and feel like? Psalm 41 tells us:
As the hart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul panteth after thee, O God.Is that how you feel? Does your soul "panteth"? A fresh start requires us to really want it. This is especially true as we go about our business in a world that typically ignores God. At best, God gets lip service. We Catholic men at work don't want that.
My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God? My tears have been my bread day and night, whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God?So, where is thy God? Even if we don't say it, too many of us live as if He's not really here. He is right here, of course. But since He never imposes Himself on us, we have to want His Presence in our daily lives - and that includes our daily work.
These things I remembered, and poured out my soul in me: for I shall go over into the place of the wonderful tabernacle, even to the house of God: With the voice of joy and praise; the noise of one feasting.Why wouldn't you want God by your side each day at work? Really. OK. Then start the New Year off right by asking Him to accompany you today and every day as you go about your business. Make sense? More on this next time...
Comments