Spirituality and Ethics
May 2008 Newsletter
KEEPING FOCUSED
By Fr. Max Oliva, SJ
We have spent the past eight issues of the newsletter reflecting on the "Our Father," a challenging prayer for our times. Prayer goes hand in hand with action. How might we keep our faith vibrant in the midst of our working lives? I am indebted to many of the dedicated men and women I have met in Spirituality at Work for the following practical ideas they use to stay spiritually grounded.
BEGINNING THE DAY: Before I leave the house, I read the Mass readings for the day from the booklet, Living With Christ, and it is uncanny how often they relate to the happenings of the day. -- I take the bus to work and use this time for prayer, sometimes asking God to bless a fellow passenger even one I do not know.
I have a Biblical passage, different each day, on my computer screen. -- The Serenity Prayer is on my Screen Saver, I read it each workday morning before opening my mail or going through my in-box. -- I subscribe to the Irish Jesuits web site Sacred Space -a ten minute daily prayer exercise - which I read on my computer as soon as I get to my desk.
DURING THE DAY: "Sacred Objects" - a cross and a fish on a bulletin board above my desk - photographs of my family --St. Patrick's Breast Plate (on a card) -- a prayer by Mother Teresa on trusting in God -- a prayer to St. Joseph, patron of workers, on a card on my desk --a piece of concrete from a project my company completed in a very ethical fashion -- a painting by an aboriginal artist that reminds me of the sacredness of the environment..The purpose of these `sacred objects' is to remind us of the ultimate meaning of our work.
OTHERS: I have the drawing of a fish on my business card, representing the person of Jesus. -- I wear a cross on a chain around my neck and touch it often. -- My key chain has a cross on it. -- My office looks out on nature; periodically pausing to gaze at the scene outside gives me a sense of inner peace in an otherwise hectic day.
If I am going to a meeting that I know will be challenging, I ask God for his assistance. -- I ask the Holy Spirit for guidance when faced with a difficult decision, that I may decide wisely. --. I go out of my way to greet those who work in our office building - the security guy, the ladies who clean the offices, and other service people. -- During lunch time I often encounter street people, I try to be toward them as Christ would be.
AT THE END OF THE DAY: Three or four days a week I close my office door at the end of the day and lie on the floor for 20 minutes. This enables me to let go the tension of the day and then go home to my family in a relaxed state of mind and spirit. -- Often on the way home from work I pay a visit to our parish church or go to the late afternoon Mass."
The next issue of the Newsletter will be in September. Have an enjoyable summer.
READERS' COMMENTS
"Thank you for your views on The Lord's Prayer. I personally find this prayer to have rejuvenating powers and lessons that keep on giving long after the words are spoken." Kevin, Financial advisor
ON 'DELIVER US FROM EVIL (OR THE EVIL ONE):
"Your newsletter on evil is still on the dining room table. We read it and come back to it to read it again. I am not crazy but I also believe we face evil daily and must wear our body 'armour'. In my case this involves my daily prayers and talking with God in the Jesuit tradition by imagining Jesus sitting beside me comforting and strengthening me." - Jerry, Resources/hydrocarbons, president
"I found your treatment of evil interesting. We speak about the presence of this reality too infrequently. Most executives I know, when asked, recount at least one instance of encountering the true presence of evil in the work place. The important point is that it is not an uncommon experience, and yet we don't give people a chance to speak of it. Good for you for sharing the moving quotations that resonate with experiences I have heard from business leaders." -Andre, University business professor and consultant on spirituality and ethics
Andre has written an insightful article on this topic. It is called, " Evil" Manifested in Destructive Individual Behaviour: A Senior Leadership Challenge. It was published in the Journal of Management Inquiry, September 2001. A review of the article states:
The author presents characteristics of evil actors, as described by executives, and suggests that the actions of evil individuals are often hidden from senior executives until after they have been manifested in destructive outcomes including withdrawal, stress, and organizational disruption. He offers prescriptions for preventing and dealing with this kind of behaviour.
"Upon reading your reflections on 'deliver us from evil,' which I appreciated very much, I want to recommend an excellent book on the subject. It is called, "Snakes in Suits," and it is written by Paul Babiak, PhD and Robert Hare, PhD Babiak (ISBN - 10: 0060837721) describes such persons as insincere, arrogant, untrustworthy, manipulative, insensitive to the thoughts and feelings of others, remorseless, shallow - meaning the person seems not to have feelings." - Murray, Internal auditor
The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was guided by seven principles. Here are two.
To accept evil without protesting against it is really to cooperate with it. To confront evil with the power of love instead of hate takes great courage.
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