6/23 - You May Not Need a Cellarer In Your Business, But You Might Benefit From Someone Like Him

Our Stability Project rumbles on. Stability at work continues to be a worthy, perhaps even critical, goal. The distractions pulling our attention from the task at hand continue to build. We'll consider the latest examples today.

We've identified these before, beginning with the government-imposed lock-downs. These wreaked havoc with just about any business. Not all business, mind you. Smaller businesses took the brunt of the impact. Lots of unemployment followed. 

As lock-downs were eased, employees faced forced jab policies: Get jabbed or get fired. These were accompanied by vaccine passports. Without one of these, you couldn't get into a show, some stores, college, athletic programs, etc. It even caused families and friends to forbid the dreaded "unvaccinated" loved ones from visiting.

Forced jabs have now eased up, as have the demands for a passport to engage in social and economic life. But that hasn't let up on the distractions that invade our work space. In fact, what's now happening may prove at least as challenging, if not altogether worse, than what's already been weighing on our minds, scattering our attention.

Inflation has come and camped out not only in our country, but around the world: rising food prices, exploding gas prices, home prices now at  unaffordable levels, mortgage rates churning higher for those who can manage the price of a home. And the real pinch - more likely squeeze - is yet to be felt. 

Despite ongoing pronouncements and assurances from our fearless political leaders (none of whom really face the realities of life that most of us face), inflation isn't going to simply disappear.  While it may ease a bit - after a red-hot streak these last months - it's really questionable that the easing will result in a true cooling off. More likely - as was the case in the last serious inflation in this country in the 1970s - a waxing and waning pattern can be expected. So after waxing for a stretch, a waning wouldn't be unusual. It's a bit like waves in the ocean. Which means, if we do in fact experience a waning in the near future, a waxing will inevitably follow.

Now, so far, while most of us have likely felt the sting of higher gas prices along with food prices, the real impact of an extended inflation has yet to really settle in. As it does in the coming months, and likely coming years, those of us who are employees will need to see our wages increase more than we're used to, simply to "keep up"with inflation. Business owners will grapple with having to raise prices for goods and services as higher costs to run the business continue and become more apparent.

And as Catholics who sincerely desire to practice our Holy Religion with the intention to grow closer to God, we can add the ongoing dysfunction in our dear Catholic Church. It's a toxic brew we're forced to drink every day as we strive to diligently perform the duties of our state of life.

In our striving, we must constantly and consistently attend to both the spiritual and the practical - our prayer, or spiritual life, and our work. And we must do so calmly and peacefully.

For a perspective on our spiritual life, look at St. Peter 2. Addressing the followers of Christ awaiting the Coming of the Lord, acknowledges the waiting (and we're still waiting!) he admonishes his flock to attend to their spiritual life. They must not allow their eager anticipation to distract them from pursuing personal holiness: "But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to him promises, in which justice dwelleth. Wherefore, dearly beloved, waiting for these things, be diligent that you may be found before him unspotted and blameless in peace."

In peace.

What about the practical sphere? In light of all the growing distractions now piling up on us, we Catholic men at work must bring calm and peace to our workplace - each of us in his own way, as is appropriate to our type of work, to our particular workplace.

Focusing on what's going awry these days, as we just did, isn't meant to stir up trouble, anxiety, or worry. It's meant to identify and acknowledge what could stir up trouble, anxiety, or worry. To remain calm and peaceful in the face of all these will be critical to maintaining a sense of stability in our workplace. As has been our custom, we turn to St. Benedict for specific guidance.

The next series of entries in the Rule can provide us with some good ideas on prudently managing our business. The focus is on the "cellarer" of the monastery. He's the guy in charge of all the stuff a monastery uses to run its daily activities. St. Benedict's comments will give us clear, useful advice we can use to see to it that the resources of our business are best used for the benefit of our clients and customers no matter what the world has been throwing at us.

We'll dive into the details next time...