Sharpening Our Spiritual Tool Box To Meet The Coming Storm - 2

As we've already explained, we're expecting a storm. And it may very well hit us before this year is over. Even if the powers that be manage to steer it away for a spell, what we outlined last time is a ticking time bomb that won't stop ticking. Considering the impact it will have on both our personal and work lives, we've launch into a mini stability project. As opposed to a comprehensive review of the Rule of Saint Benedict as our reference point, we'll focus on a small section our beloved wise saint refers to as "The Tools of Good Works."

We'll see how St. Benedict's remarks can help us produce our best work in the face of any problems and distractions we face, especially those coming at us these days. If and when the storm hits, we'll be prepared best we can.

We start today with:

• To relieve the poor.
• To clothe the naked.
• To visit the sick.
• The bury the dead.
• To help the afflicted.
• To console the sorrowing.

Now how do we perform such tasks at work? There are no poor, naked, sick, dead people in my office. Well, what about volunteering for soup kitchen duty? While most of us live in relatively rich circumstances (compared to other parts of the world, yes we're rich), not all of us have been blessed with that same level of prosperity. It's not easy carving out time if you've got a really busy challenging job that takes up all your Monday-Friday hours, even some of your weekends, leaving little time for R&R. But I know people who somehow manage to volunteer despite such heavy, pressing work demands.

Or how about this: Earn enough money such that you can contribute some of your surplus to help those who are indeed poor, who lack proper clothing appropriate to wherever they might live. Same for the sick. Many organizations solicit your donations. (Just be sure to investigate such that you're giving to an organization that directs donations to the cause not into the pockets of their executives.) Indeed, one of our callings is to make the effort to earn more - when possible and prudent - specifically to be in a position to help others. And, of course, we might remember the Gospel story of the widow and her mite - she who gave not of her surplus, but of her substance.
 
What about burying the dead? Well, here we simply make sure to attend wakes and, when possible, funeral Masses for those whom we know - relatives, friends, even colleagues at work. I remember when a certain colleague of mine - who was particularly successful and very busy, took the trouble to attend my father's funeral Mass on a weekday morning. He scooted back to the office right after that, but the effort was much appreciated, and surprisingly consoling. Yes, it's been a special challenge with the restrictions placed on wakes, funerals, and burials due to COVID, but we can just do what we can despite this.

As for the afflicted and sorrowing, I don't know about your workplace, but I've seen enough at mine over the years. People face all sorts of difficulties and tragedies and at times we become aware of them. A colleague recently wanted to have lunch. I typically don't go out to lunch during the work week, but he seemed to really want to connect in this way. It turned out he was deeply concerned about a family member whom he felt was going astray, based on certain behaviors and bad decisions. Not sure why he wanted to share this with me, and I didn't have any particularly brilliant or even insightful suggestions. But looking at the concern in his face, it seemed that simply listening to the affliction he was experiencing might provide some level of comfort. My attempt at encouraging words may not have meant much, but perhaps my presence and my listening did. And, not that it was such a big deal, but I really was pressed for time and would have preferred not taking an hour and a half for lunch that day. But "something" told me to just go ahead and give up the time.

Maybe we can all make the effort to be "on alert" in your workplace for those who may need a bit of your time and sympathetic ear. Of course, some people do have a tendency exaggerate what irks them, so watch out for getting sucked into listening to those who simply whine and complain all the time. You'll serve no one well - neither whiner nor yourself - by subjecting yourself to such nonsense. We're talking here about those specific situations when someone's having a particularly difficult run because of personal misfortune. If it's not someone who's spouse or child causes them deep concern or sorrow, it might be that they're suffering some physical, emotional, or mental affliction that makes life particularly difficult, through no fault of their own. If you become aware of it any time you might at least listen to their troubles.

All of these "tools" will pull you out of yourself and focus your time and energy on someone else. When you think about it, that's pretty much what Our Lord did throughout his public life. In fact, He sought out those in need and applied His words and actions, over and over again, to the physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually afflicted.

We may not be in the position to do all of the above all the time. But surely one or more are within our grasp. And setting aside our needs and concerns to center our attention on the difficulties and needs of others will help us be more calm and grounded if and when a storm engulfs us in the fall - or even if it gives us a glancing blow.

More next time...