By James L. Nolan
[This article originally appeared in the June 23, 2000
issue of the Los Angeles diocesan newspaper Tidings.]
Nobody who works for a living would be surprised to hear
that we live in a period of rapid change, shifting boundaries, and faint
allegiances. Just look at the wild mood swings of the stock market and
furious protests against globalization -- the latest signs of these blustery
times.
It is fair to ask whether it is even possible to lead
a spiritual life in the 24-7 world economy. After all, what saint spent
her workday behind a computer screen? How many famous holy men or women
have we heard of who taught middle school kids, worked in the ER, prepared
tax returns, or served as the CEO of a multinational Fortune 500 company?
Not many, but I have a better question: What are we doing,
anyway, when we work? If you look at it through the lens of faith, you'll
find a few surprising, and hopeful, answers.
First of all, we have to recognize that there is good
and bad, progress and decline, in all we do.
On the good side, we can see that our work provides others
with needed goods and services. It also gives us a platform to grow our
skills, talents, and God-given gifts. As we combine our efforts with others,
we enhance the common good by, among other things, creating and distributing
wealth, promoting the growth of community within our workplaces, and developing
new technologies.
But this is not the whole story. All our work is not yet
heaven on earth by a long shot. Downsides must be acknowledged. There are
dehumanizing organizations and systems that promote and reward not what
is the best in us and for us, but what is worst in us. Think of an illegal
drug cartel as an example of a hard working, very profitable organization
that promotes evil and does harm.
Just where is God in all these creative and destructive
aspects of human work? The answer is "all over the place." We see God working
in and through His creation.
We, God's creatures, are called to be co-workers in the
divine project. We are invited to use our intelligence, our energy, our
savvy, and all that we care about in pursuing that call. When we do so,
we understand and chose the positive, and recognize and diminish the negative.
When we work and make life better in any way, we are not doing it alone.
We are in league with God, being led by the Holy Spirit working within
and through us. Now that's what I call the big leagues.
Our work is much more than a job category or pay grade.
It is where we work out who we are; where we know, choose, and do what
is worthwhile or best. It is where we can truly team up with God -- who
is already there, working in us, beckoning and energizing us to work for
the greater good.
The prophet Micah berated the leaders of ancient Israel
for ripping the people off, charging huge
sums for lavish sacrifices, and for corrupt life styles
and greedy behavior. He predicted many horrible consequences. He reminded
his listeners that even the most extravagant of offerings to God would
not alter the judgements they had merited. Then he offered them, and us,
his famous advice:
"You have been told, Oh man, what is good, and what the
Lord requires
of you: only to do the right and to love goodness, and
to walk humbly with
your God?" (Micah 6:8).
Alone, it is hard to do this well. We are sustained in
this time of challenge and change by our relationships with our neighbors
and coworkers, in our faith communities -- and when we "walk humbly with
our God."
God's work is being accomplished in history, working its
way over time. But toward what end, ultimately? Toward where we will live
in profound peace, pervasive justice, and joyful love. Now, that sounds
like heaven on earth. Jesus called it the Reign of God.
James L. Nolan was the former executive
director of the Woodstock Business Conference, a program of the Woodstock
Theological Center at Georgetown University in Washington. The Conference
has chapters that meet monthly in 19 cities.
How to Contact Us:
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