I recently read this article…Five Ways to Show Catholic Courage at Work…and it reminded me of a friend who embodied what Randy Hain so eloquently wrote about. I will not reveal his name or his employer’s but I will reveal two examples of the courage he showed in dealing with adversity.
My friend had done a great job in his position and was approached with an opportunity to make a larger contribution. His boss asked him to head up a charity event, which was considered a great honor among his peers. My friend was a bit hesitant because of some things he’d heard about the charitable organization involved.
After much prayer he faced his boss and told him on no uncertain terms would he be part of a charity fundraiser that supported a charity raising money for Planned Parenthood. He took this stand knowing there could be disastrous consequences for his career. Think about it – you must know someone who committed career suicide by taking a stand or just saying no to something you’re not supposed to say no to.
So what happened?
His boss said he admired him for having the courage to follow his convictions. He knew it wasn’t easy to swim upstream and he appreciated the upfront communication. There was no career suicide, no subtle retaliation, no placing him on the backburner.
A Model of Grace Under Pressure
He held his head high and listened to the feedback given him. He focused on serving others rather than himself. Things improved – he had weathered the storm. Still, another opportunity beckoned and he pursued it.
Time passed and that opportunity wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. His future was beginning to look uncertain. Then he received a call. It was the company he’d previously worked for – the company who’d put him to the test.
Turns out his services were in need. The management who’d put him through those tribulations was gone. The team now in place remembered my friend not just for the quality of his work. They admired how he handled himself when he was being put to the test. His attitude and demeanor stood out. His grace was rewarded with their grace.
What did I learn from his story?
Convictions With Consistency
First, I came to realize there can no longer be a difference between who I am at work and who I am everywhere else. My beliefs are my beliefs, my values are my values and I carry them everywhere I go. This is why I resisted the urge to plan a food drive for a pan-religious organization. I arrived at the idea to support Catholic Charities with the subtle influence of the Holy Spirit. I could not deny His call.
Second, somebody’s always watching. It’s easy to think about that in negative terms. “You never know who might be watching so be on your best behavior.” Sound familiar? I’d rather focus on the positive, though. When do we Catholics set the example? When should we be living a Christ-like life?
Twenty-four hours a day – seven days a week.
When we model Jesus at work, we make an important contribution to our faith. We create a ministry in the place where we also make our living. Turning work into a ministry does not happen overnight, though. It’s a process, much like spiritual growth itself and what a magnificent process it is. Success or failure – I’m determined to embrace and enjoy the journey and pray for the ultimate reward.
Question: In what ways have you turned your work into your ministry? If you haven’t, what’s holding you back? I’d love to read your story in the form of a comment below…