Spirituality and Work

A Reflective Dialogue
with
Barbara Gallagher Jarry and John Knuerr
10.12.07
Goals
To provide an opportunity to reflect on
and deepen our understanding of
spirituality

To explore ways in which spirituality
relates to and gives meaning to work
What is Spirituality?
The spiritual dimension is considered equal to the
physical, psychological and emotional well-being
of each person
~ SPHS Pastoral Care Standard
For many people, it is the simple yet sacred act
of connecting with something greater than
oneself often referred to as your higher
power, the divine, or the absolute.

For Marianne Williamson, it is about inviting
God into your life.
What is Spirituality?
When we are in right relationship, we feel a
sense of joy, a sense of peace, a sense of
meaning; a sense of being comfortable in our
own skin. It feels like a type of homecoming, a
kind of belonging.

- Joan Borysenko
What is Spirituality?
Reflective Integration
Mindfulness Moment
L'Anglus, Jean Francois Millet
Recall an early memory
that awakened you to a
deeper, spiritual
dimension of life.
How does a spiritual focus
enrich my work?
The Spiritual Life does not remove us from
the world, but leads us deeper into it.

~ Henri J. M. Nouwen
The 3 Cs of Spirituality:
Connection
Compassion
Contribution

~ Bill OHanlon
How do we restore a new energy to our lives? Is
there a way of building into our days a ground, a
center, and a reminder of what is at the heart of
all our endeavors?
An extraordinary thing is that it isnt really the
amount of work we do that wears us out. Burn-
out has more to do with the absence of
enthusiasm and dedication.
When we work with a passion, everything
changes.
- Daniel OLeary
Showing up for work is difficult. You
would think not showing up would be
impossible for living, breathing human
beings, but we know enough of ourselves
to realize we are the one part of creation
that can refuse to be itself. Our bodies can
be present in our work, but our hearts,
minds, and imagination can be placed
firmly in neutral or engaged elsewhere.
- David Whyte
To have a firm persuasion in our work to
feel that what we do is right for ourselves and
good for the world at the exactly same time
is one of the great triumphs of human
existence.
Blake called this sense of dedication a firm
persuasion.
My fingers emit sparks of fire
with expectation of my future
labors.
- David Whyte
To have a firm persuasion, to set
boldly in our work is to make a
pilgrimage of our labors, to understand
that the consummation of work lies not
only in what we have done, but who
we have become while accomplishing
the task
- David Whyte
How can we create an
environment supportive to
the spiritual dimension of
life at work?
Through the process of spiritual awakening
we are shown places in ourselves that we have
not seen before. Within each of us is a source
of great strength, compassion and beauty.
When we tap into this place we are inspired to
connect to others, give comfort and support to
those around us, even in dark times.

Selliken Bernard and Schneider (1996)
TASK-ORIENTED
VALUES
PERSON-ORIENTED
VALUES
Emphasis on:
Attitudes:
Job
Production
Product
Competition
Efficiency
Comparison
Conformity
Person
Growth
Friends
Cooperation
Love
Uniqueness
Diversity
Prove yourself
Judgment from outside
(producing feelings of guilt)
Utilitarian
Functional
Striving, straining
Sense of accomplishment
Time measured by rhythm of clock
Become yourself
Judgment from within
(producing conditions of peace)
Creative
Expressive
Non-grasping, non-striving
Sense of wonder
Rhythm of nature
The Symptoms of Inner Peace
A tendency to think and act spontaneously
rather than from fears based on past
experiences.
An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
A loss of interest in judging self and others
Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation
Experiences of deep connectedness with all of
creation.
Frequent attacks of smiling through the eyes of
the heart
- Jeff Rockwell
Learn to forgive
Practice gratitude
Demonstrate appreciation
Give and receive
Cultivate compassion
Honor the sacredness of all life
Putting Spirituality Into Practice
It is not how much you do but how
much love you put into the doing and
sharing with others that is important.
- Mother Teresa
We are not human beings
having a spiritual experience, we
are spiritual beings having a
human experience.
Teilhard de Chardin