Sharpening Our Spiritual Tool Box To Meet The Coming Storm - 3

By now you know we're expecting some sort of storm to hit before this year is over. Even if the powers that be manage to steer it away for a spell, what we outlined recently 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 continue now with: 

• Not to yield to anger.
• Not to nurse a grudge.
• Not to hold guile in one's heart.
• Not to make a feigned peace.
• Not to forsake charity.

If you consider these five as a whole, you'll see not only their value to your soul, but also how eminently practical their application in any workplace. A successful business relies not only on the individual efforts of workers, but also on team work. And no team can function without using each of these "Tools of Good Works." (The term "team" may be a bit over-used these days, but that doesn't take away from the importance of the concept.)

But it's not only the business that benefits from good team work; it's you as well, especially when you're in a job that puts you in close proximity with others day in and day out. Here I speak from experience. For example, a number of years ago my cubicle was positioned next to someone whose tone of voice and demeanor combined both bombast and - for want of a better term - B.S. Some days this person could drone on for hours. And since I wasn't the only one who noticed this, a certain amount of gossip issued forth from my colleagues. So here we have the double challenge of not only fostering a spirit of charity towards this person in my direct interaction, but also avoiding the temptation to be roped into participating in the gossip that sometimes swirled around them. Moving on.

Anger - especially the outright vocal expression of it - tends to be rare in most office settings, especially in a day and age where everyone seems to be offended by just about everything. But anger can be harbored in the heart. And it's not uncommon for it to partner with holding a grudge. Either of these vices calls for a special effort to forgive and, just as important, to forget. If someone harms you in any way, even if that harm was intended, you will be likely be challenged here, but just remember that the call to love one's enemies wasn't some unreasonable request or demand by Our Lord. He meant it for each one of us, and it would specifically apply to those who harm us.

Guile - the use of clever and usually dishonest methods to achieve something - should never by in the tool box of a Christian trying to get ahead in business. Frankly, it should be obvious that it's not worth staining your soul for a few (or even a bunch of) dollars or a desired promotion. But sometimes we're enticed by a particularly attractive opportunity, so St. Benedict's reminder can come in handy at such tempting times.

As for a feigned peace, we're not talking about calling a truce. Here we refer to a situation where we falsely give an impression that we have forgiven someone, or have set aside some perceived offense, but in reality harbor resentment or worse, the desire for revenge. Not Christian.

And if you're ever uncertain how to react to people or events that harm you, the final exhortation, not to forsake charity might be a simple catch-all that, if rigorously and, more importantly, generously followed, will stand in good stead with the Almighty and, ultimately with your fellow man.

St Benedict, being an astute observer of the heart and soul, quickly follows with the following tools. For these, if you're trying to live an any way as a Catholic gentleman, you can simply read and meditate briefly on each. They further compliment today's comments:

• Not to render evil for evil.
• To do no wrong to anyone, and to bear patiently wrongs done to oneself.
• To love one's enemies.
• Not to render cursing for cursing, but rather blessing.
• To bear persecution for justice' sake.

Using such spiritual tools will increase our stability and calm in the face of whatever storm may hit us in the coming months. We want our tool box to be as full as possible.