Part of becoming an adult is realizing that special things don’t happen by magic. As a child, the turkey that shows up at Thanksgiving, cookies and presents at Christmas, and vacations and fun trips with your family all seem to fall out of the sky. Even simple things, like decorations that make a season feel a particular way, seem to happen in a snap. It’s as if no effort was put into them, but somehow they were orchestrated by Heaven above. All of that, of course, is not magic; it’s the effort of someone who loved you, someone who wanted to sacrifice for you, to give you something special.
This principle, I think, applies to everything: the most wonderful things in the world don’t happen on their own.
In the home, it’s the father and mother’s responsibility to step up and provide for their children. Food, yes. Shelter, certainly. And memories they can cherish and pass down out of loving gratitude? I think so too. Those memories cannot be gifted without the self-sacrificing effort of the parents. To have the most wonderful childhood, parents must work their tails off to make it happen.
In marriage, husband and wife must both be willing to put 100% of themselves into it. If it’s flowers on the table she loves, it’s flowers he must get. If it’s a kind word of admiration he needs, it’s kind words she’ll deliver. Never forget how hard you tried to make the other smile in the beginning, and try even harder now. To have the most wonderful marriage, husband and wife must pour themselves out completely.
This truth doesn't stop at the front door of our homes; it follows us into our pews and our offices.
In the Church, most of the work is done by a select few. A beautiful liturgy, perfectly arranged flowers, and flourishing catechesis do not happen by accident. It’s only possible because of those willing to step up and invest their time and talent in making these things great. To have the most wonderful parish, parishioners must steward their gifts to bring it to life.
In the workplace, as in the Church, the magic of a great culture is often sustained by the few. The Pareto Principle often holds true: 80% of the culture is driven by 20% of the contributors. If we want a vibrant culture in the workplace, somebody needs to step up and do what’s necessary to create an environment worth working in. That is, a place where going to work is not something to dread, but an experience that gives you life. To have the most wonderful workplace, everyone must labor with love to make it happen.
Here’s what I’m asking myself, and I invite you to do the same: how can I step up? How can I bear the burden of others? How can I spend my time and my talent in service? How can I make my home, my church, and my workplace the most wonderful place in the world?
📚 What I’m Consuming
I listened to an episode of the Lila Rose show with Fr. John Riccardo (video/podcast) that was really beautiful. In particular, Fr. Riccardo walked through a 4-step process of discerning God’s voice and plan in your life.
Lisa Bodell (video) is a workplace genius, if you ask me. This video is a compilation of some talks that she’s given about killing complexity in the workplace.
How to Build Trust (article) is a great read for managers and individual contributors alike. The root is: do your job and be a good human. Managing is hard, and the author does a nice job of outlining some actual trust-building techniques.
Peace be with you,
Jacob
psst… hey, could you forward this to someone you think would find it valuable? I’d greatly appreciate it!