Can We Really Abandon Ourselves To God's Will at Work?
As Lent begins, we're starting a special series of posts to help us work through this Holy season. Each will incorporate the advice provided by Father de Caussade in Abandonment to Divine Providence. We've occasionally derived valuable lessons from Father's work in the past. Now we'll pay him some sustained attention by culling passages from the "Letters on the Practice of Abandonment to Divine Providence" that are typically included in editions of his spiritual writing. We'll try to apply the lessons he provides to our work.
Letter II - titled "A Short Way to Perfection" offers this advice:
"If you would be perfect, divest yourself of your own views, of all high notions of yourself, of studied elegance, of all reflexion of your own conduct; in fine, of all that you can call your own, and give yourself up without reserve and for ever to the guidance and good pleasure of God."
Father wastes no time here. A first reading may find us nodding in agreement. I mean, as spiritual advice goes, it does ring true, doesn't it? But after a few nods, we may wonder: How can a man at work - even a Catholic man - incorporate this advice into the typical daily toil we face? The bigger question: Can we really abandon ourselves to God's Will at work? Let's take each phrase in turn to find out what this might look like:
Divest yourself o your own views...
Does it mean we're not ever offer any of our own thoughts at work? No. But we shouldn't be wedded to those views. Frankly, it's good practical advice. For most businesses, change is king. Economies ebb and flow. What people spend money on during good times may not be so attractive when times are tough. Markets shift as well. The Baby Boomers who were once the primary target of advertisers have been quietly shunted aside. Companies spend more time marketing now to a younger demographic.
Leaving the practical for the spiritual, being wedded to your own ideas frequently betrays pride and/or a self-centered focus. We need to listen to what others have to say. They could be right; we may be wrong. More importantly, though, we need to "listen" to God. If all we're focused on is our own view of how things are or should be, we'll likely lock out the promptings of the Holy Spirit, as He lovingly tries to guide us away from the world, the flesh, and the devil towards the True, the Good, and the Beautiful.
...of all high notions of yourself...
If you've ever worked in a highly competitive environment, you know how self-confidence can be an essential tool to putting yourself in a position for a raise or promotion. But self-confidence that's not grounded in reality can easily become self-deception. Even self-confidence based on demonstrated skill and accomplishment can serve to fuel pride and ego if we focus on how wonderful we think we are.
...of studied elegance...
Appearance matters in the work place. You've got to dress appropriately, speak intelligently, interact with others with some degree of measured cooperation. But beware an exaggerated focus on how we look, how we sound, how others perceive us. That can feed vanity and pander to human respect.
...of all reflexion of your own conduct...
Just as we examine our conscience each day, it makes sense to step back and evaluate how we're doing from time to time. But consider applying some checklist consisting of objective criteria that will reflect how well you're meeting expectations and accomplishing work goals. It's not you that matters as much as what you're doing.
In the end, more specifically at the end of a day's work, you should know that you fulfilled your responsibilities diligently, in their entirety. Once you know you've done all you could, turn your gaze towards God. If you've focused on your work rather than yourself, if you've done so with the intention of seeking and doing His Will, you will have taken a step towards abandoning yourself to Divine Providence.
"...give yourself up without reserve and for ever to the guidance and good pleasure of God."
We conclude today's Lenten reflection with the short, simple prayer that accompanies us during the Stations of the Cross:
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
Letter II - titled "A Short Way to Perfection" offers this advice:
"If you would be perfect, divest yourself of your own views, of all high notions of yourself, of studied elegance, of all reflexion of your own conduct; in fine, of all that you can call your own, and give yourself up without reserve and for ever to the guidance and good pleasure of God."
Father wastes no time here. A first reading may find us nodding in agreement. I mean, as spiritual advice goes, it does ring true, doesn't it? But after a few nods, we may wonder: How can a man at work - even a Catholic man - incorporate this advice into the typical daily toil we face? The bigger question: Can we really abandon ourselves to God's Will at work? Let's take each phrase in turn to find out what this might look like:
Divest yourself o your own views...
Does it mean we're not ever offer any of our own thoughts at work? No. But we shouldn't be wedded to those views. Frankly, it's good practical advice. For most businesses, change is king. Economies ebb and flow. What people spend money on during good times may not be so attractive when times are tough. Markets shift as well. The Baby Boomers who were once the primary target of advertisers have been quietly shunted aside. Companies spend more time marketing now to a younger demographic.
Leaving the practical for the spiritual, being wedded to your own ideas frequently betrays pride and/or a self-centered focus. We need to listen to what others have to say. They could be right; we may be wrong. More importantly, though, we need to "listen" to God. If all we're focused on is our own view of how things are or should be, we'll likely lock out the promptings of the Holy Spirit, as He lovingly tries to guide us away from the world, the flesh, and the devil towards the True, the Good, and the Beautiful.
...of all high notions of yourself...
If you've ever worked in a highly competitive environment, you know how self-confidence can be an essential tool to putting yourself in a position for a raise or promotion. But self-confidence that's not grounded in reality can easily become self-deception. Even self-confidence based on demonstrated skill and accomplishment can serve to fuel pride and ego if we focus on how wonderful we think we are.
...of studied elegance...
Appearance matters in the work place. You've got to dress appropriately, speak intelligently, interact with others with some degree of measured cooperation. But beware an exaggerated focus on how we look, how we sound, how others perceive us. That can feed vanity and pander to human respect.
...of all reflexion of your own conduct...
Just as we examine our conscience each day, it makes sense to step back and evaluate how we're doing from time to time. But consider applying some checklist consisting of objective criteria that will reflect how well you're meeting expectations and accomplishing work goals. It's not you that matters as much as what you're doing.
In the end, more specifically at the end of a day's work, you should know that you fulfilled your responsibilities diligently, in their entirety. Once you know you've done all you could, turn your gaze towards God. If you've focused on your work rather than yourself, if you've done so with the intention of seeking and doing His Will, you will have taken a step towards abandoning yourself to Divine Providence.
"...give yourself up without reserve and for ever to the guidance and good pleasure of God."
We conclude today's Lenten reflection with the short, simple prayer that accompanies us during the Stations of the Cross:
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
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