What We Own and How We Own It

We all own stuff. What we own and "how" we own it matters. It matters for the health of our soul. It also matters if we want to build stability in our workplace. Let's see how.

First, let's recall what we just learned from St. Benedict's description of the cellarer. The monastery needs a good cellarer to run smoothly. He's prudent in handling what he's in charge of. He treats the monks who use what he's in charge of charitably. We should do likewise in our workplace. The business will run more smoothly. Our soul will benefit as well. Not only will we promote stability in the workplace, but we promote sanctity in our soul.

In the next entry of his Rule, St. Benedict addresses whether monks should have anything of their own.  They should not. Indeed, such ownership is considered a vice. While we might be able to apply St. Benedict's words directly to us non-monks, we can still learn a thing or two.

Regarding ownership, St. Benedict says:

"This vice especially ought to be utterly rooted out of the monastery. Let no one presume to give or receive anything without the abbot's leave, or to have anything whatever, whether book or tablets or pen or whatever it may be..."

This may not be literally applicable to us. But as with other seemingly applies-to-monks-only rules, we might find a lesson or two that can help us in our efforts to establish stability in the workplace. A stretch? Maybe not. 

Consider how we work hard to make money. Does some - if not a lot - of that money go to buying and maintaining lots of stuff? Within reason, some of us can manage lots of stuff OK. But too many of us buy too much. And of that too much, too much may be a lot more expensive than we can really afford. We own more than we need. And we spend too much to get it.

Houses and cars can serve as good examples.

When a house is big - too big - it costs a lot to maintain; never mind to furnish; or to gussy up with all sorts of gee-gaws. If we're sweating paying our mortgage, or constantly filling that Big House with stuff that we don't really need, we've got to work hard to make enough money to meet ballooning obligations. 

Now, working hard every day can be a good thing. The sweat of our brow can build character, help us advance in our careers, provide the surplus that gives us a bit of pleasure, and something to help others in need.

That's OK. But it's not OK when our sweat pours like a waterfall because: we can't keep up with our bills; or we're always looking for more because we just can't get enough. You get it, right? Not OK. 

Compare again to a monk:

"...for monks should not have even their bodies and wills at their disposal. But let them look to the father of the monastery for all that they require, and let it be unlawful to have anything which the abbot has not given or allowed..."

Without owning stuff, they can focus on what matters: their spiritual life. They can pray and work for the greater glory of God. Not that they don't have their own distractions and short-comings. But ownership isn't one of them. And ownership of stuff shouldn't be one of ours.

If we own too much, if what we own really owns us, it's time for a change. We too need to focus on our spiritual life. We too want to pray and work for the greater glory of God with as few distractions as possible.

Besides, how can we build stability in the workplace if its filled with folks who are gingerly maneuvering or barreling ahead at full speed to keep a step ahead of the bill-collector; or whose entire motivation for working hard is to earn more to get more. If everyone's running around pouring sweat because they want more stuff - totally focused on themeselves - the objectives and deadlines of the business take a distant second place. The workers in the business can never get down to the day's task calmly, peacefully.

And guess what: a lot of chickens without heads running around to satisfy their desire to get more won't lend itself to stability in the workplace.

That all covers the issue of what we own. How we own what we own matters too. We'll look at that next time...