An Over The Top Recommendation For Zeal In The Workplace
The final entry we'll consider to wind up our Stability Project finds St. Benedict urging us to be zealous. While zeal in the workplace may not seem extraordinary, we may find St. Benedict's specific form of zeal a bit over the top.
Let's start with the dictionary definition of zeal:
"great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective"
So far so good, right? Maybe even more than so good. Indeed some of us may be more inclined toward a zealous pursuit of our work objectives. Our zeal may percolate from our personality; or it may almost be a necessity in certain types of exceptionally demanding occupations.
A professional athlete, for example, may more commonly approach the day's work with a real zeal. Sleepwalking through a competition may not yield the results that the coach or the fans expect. As for daily workouts, anyone whose done heavy-duty physical exercise knows that only a high degree of energy and attention will do if you're going to get serious results.
When you think about it, even types of work that might not appear to require zeal may actually entail something that may be a sort of toned down version of zeal. For example, if you do a lot of reading and research, or if you're a computer programmer, you may spend long hours in quiet concentration. But, really, to get good results, doesn't something akin to zeal make a lot of sense?
Frankly, when I have to spend long hours on a quiet project, any zeal I can muster helps me stay sharp. I do this by connecting the detailed work to its ultimate purpose. In my case, that's not hard. I remind myself each morning that I work for the greater glory of God, the welfare of my family, the benefit of my clients and customers, and the common good. That can usually elicit the appropriate dose of zeal when needed.
With that, let's look at St. Benedict's instructions:
"Just as there is an evil zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so is there a good zeal which separates from evil and leads to God and life everlasting. Let monks, therefore, exercise this zeal with the most fervent love. Let them, that is, give one another precedence. Let them bear with the greatest patience on another's infirmities, whether of body or character. Let them vie in paying obedience one to another. Let none follow what seems good for himself, but rather what is good for another. Let them practise fraternal charity with a pure love. Let them fear God. Let them love their abbot with a sincere and humble affection. Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ. And may he bring us all alike to life everlasting."
Given that this is the penultimate entry in the Rule, consider what he's doing here. If his monks have followed the Rule, they already understand how to approach their daily duties and their relastionships with superiors and fellow monks. So now he urges zeal to elevate to its highest level the ora (prayer) and labora (work) that comprise the monk's life.
We can do the same in our own work. Having followed each entry of the Rule these many months, we should be in a position to take this final bit of advice to heart and elevate our own work to a similar level. Doing so provides the practical benefit of promoting an ordered, calm, and peaceful environment in the workplace, resulting in a greater degree of stability, to the extent possible.
And it goes without saying that our spiritual life will be greatly enhanced as well.
So there is it. Through these many months, we have provided multiple counter-measures to the disruptions and distractions that threaten to upset the desired order and stability of our workplace. St. Benedict has provided us with the specific tools, and the detailed practical instruction on how to use them.
While our Stability Project draws to a close, the Rule of St. Benedict remains one of the greatest sources we have to guide us in our decision-making, behavior and overall management of our work. Yes, it counters the disruptions and distractions flying at us from the world these days. But it also serves as a wonderful spiritual and practical guide to help us do our best in our daily labor.
I read the Rule every day. Having done this for more years than I can remember, I can attest that it never gets old. It never disappoints. You might consider doing the same.
Oh, and now that it's Lent, let's end with our traditional post-script prayer.
We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee
Comments