Faith@Work: Week 5

Love Your Neighbor @Work

How does our faith make a difference in how we treat others at work? The "Golden Rule" does not just challenge us to do the "moral" or "right" thing at work, but to do the loving thing--treating them as we would want to be treated. What does this really mean when our work neighbors include both our co-workers and competitors, and both our customers and those serving us?

Sunday readings for 10/29/17 (U.S. Bishops)

In the Gospel this week, Jesus tells us to love God and neighbor. What does it mean to love our neighbor in the workplace?

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”

He said to him,
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it:
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Who is My Work Neighbor?

Who do you think of as your neighbor in your occupation? Do you always treat them as you would like to be treated?

My co-workers
My boss
My employee
My customer or client
My suppliers

My competitors
Potential co-workers (interviewees)
Support workers (cleaners, technicians, postal workers, drivers, etc.)

Do I take the Gospel message of reconciliation and love into the places where I live and work?
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) May 23, 2013

Making a Difference to Others

See the one-minute story of a New York City elevator operator who made a transformative difference to others through his work.

The Golden Rule. Sure, sure, I'll try to treat others as I'd like to be treated. Within reason, of course. I mean, the workplace is a jungle, isn't it? I can't be expected to change the corporate culture all by myself, can I? If I don't follow the rules, I'll be eaten up, won't I?

At best, many people--including Christians--view the basic injunction of Jesus to "love your neighbor as yourself" as a prescription to "be nice." Holding the door open for others, issuing a cheery "have a nice day," remembering a co-worker's birthday or anniversary--these are often the limit of the kinds of actions we think of when we consider love in the workplace....

Being nice in the workplace is not a bad thing. In fact, giving thanks and congratulations and building support and community in the workplace may be among the first steps in practicing the spirituality of work. But these are not the last, or only, or even the most important steps. Of all the disciplines of the spirituality of work, the practice of dealing with others as we would have them deal with us on a regular and comprehensive basis in our workplaces would effect the most radical, challenging, and difference-making change in how we go about our work.

The
Golden
Rule at
Work

From Spirituality at Work
by Gregory F.A. Pierce

In Chapter 8 of his book Spirituality at Work ("Dealing with Others As You Would Have Them Deal with You"), Gregory Pierce digs into what living the Golden Rule at work really can mean beyond just "being nice." How do we treat others as we would want to be treated in challenging situations? He explores questions such as:

Honesty - How do we act when we are undercharged? Do we advertise how we would like others to advertise? Are we evaluating others how we would want to be evaluated? Are we honest with everyone we encounter in our work?
Customer service - Do I treat customers as I would want to be treated?
Negotiation - How do we negotiate out of love? Can we be generous without being taken advantage of? How would I want someone else to negotiate with me?
Competition - What are fair, healthy, and loving ways to compete? What business practices would we not want used against us?
Just compensation - Is everyone in your work being compensated as you would want to be compensated?

Make Me an Instrument of Peace at Work

Where there are indifference or hatred,
let me sow compassion and love.
Where there are fraud, waste, and abuse,
let me sow accountability and help restore justice.

Where there are stress and burnout,
help me sow purpose and divine calm.

Where there are darkness and confusion,
help me find wisdom and clear sight.
Where there is sadness, help me promote healing and joy.

May all my tasks be done in harmony with all Creation.

May I always work in balance,
true to myself and my purpose, on the level with others,
giving to others, loving others,
as I give to and love myself.

May my workplace be sacred space,
where love and compassion
ripple out from each small act that I do,
right here, right now, and always.

Jesus Worked

Fr. James Martin reminds us that Jesus worked -- in fact, he worked as a day laborer for much more of his life than he did in public teaching ministry.

Enter the house of Nazareth, approach this workbench where, beside Joseph and under the maternal glance of his mother, the Son of God worked. God-made-man knew the experience of human work. We want to enter there, into this house of Nazareth. We want to bring all the modern problems of work: all the social, economic, political, cultural and moral problems, all the anxieties connected with the world of work, especially the worry caused by unemployment…In this house in Nazareth we return close to Jesus the worker…There cannot be human work that is alienated [here]. I say this in the name of Jesus…Human work is redeemed, is restored in Jesus Christ.

Saint John Paul II, Angelus Prayer in the Vatican, March 1984

Love is the infrastructure of everything and anything worthwhile. If someone with X-ray vision looked for love in your endeavors, what would they see? Where would they find the love? Some companies are held together only by paychecks; and in some companies, the love is so strong that people would pay just to be part of them. What kind of company is yours?

Jesus spoke for three years on everything from how not to swallow a camel to how to become the greatest of all. Yet ultimately he summarized his teaching in one sentence: "Love God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength, and your neighbor as yourself." Jesus could lead people because, quite simply, he loved them.

Laurie Beth Jones, Jesus, CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership