Spiritual Perspective

by Brandon Jubar

Since the documents of Vatican II were first promulgated, the importance of the laity within the Church has continued to grow. In the United States today, lay men and women are not only active volunteers, but they can also be found on Catholic Parish staffs in every diocese. They are Directors of Religious Education, Youth Ministers, Outreach Directors and teachers, to name a few.

But even though the laity holds many key positions in the Church, there is still a prevalent feeling that we are of lesser import than those who are ordained. What many people seem to forget is that we all have important roles to play within the Body of Christ, whether we are ordained or lay. And one of the most important things that lay people can do is to look at their daily lives within the "secular" world, learn to see God at work there, and then share those experiences with their peers. Together, we can learn to see with our eyes of faith.

Marvel at the Mundane

As you go about your day, make a conscious effort to see things in a different light. Look at the events of your life as if viewing them for the first time. When you walk into work and a colleague smiles and says "good morning", don't just return the greeting reflexively. Bid them a good morning in return, and truly mean it. Was the Spirit present in that small act?

If a coworker complains about a problem at home, don't ignore it or, worse yet, use it as an opening to start complaining about your problems. Instead, take the time to listen. Ask a question and really pay attention to the reply. Make suggestions, if appropriate, or simply offer encouragement. Whatever you do to the least of my people, right?

Look around as you walk and pay attention to your surroundings. Take a different route to work and enjoy the different sights. Stop at a store you haven't patronized before and make a point to chat with the salesperson or cashier. When something strikes you as being good, say a quick prayer of thanksgiving right then and there.

Share Your Point of View

With practice, you'll start to see the holiness in all of creation. You really will find yourself marveling at the mundane. But that should only be the beginning! Don't keep your vision to yourself -- start to share your point of view with the people around you.

When someone witnesses a kind deed with you, mention it to them afterwards. "Wasn't it nice of Janet to help Tom on his project?" Point out the good things while others are only seeing the negative and perhaps they'll start to change their own points of view.

As lay people, most of us do not have the luxury of working in a Christian setting -- most of us are struggling through in the secular world. But the Spirit can't be contained by the four walls of a church. The Spirit is everywhere, but those of us in the secular world really understand how easy it is to lose site of that fact. So why not use that understanding to help each other break out of our blindness and truly see with our eyes of faith!

Life Applications:

How often do you pray at work, and what do you pray for?
How often do you talk about faith and spirituality in the workplace?
Where do you see the spirit at work in your life, outside of religious services?

Copyright 2006 by Brandon Jubar
All rights reserved.