Serendipity
I get a weekly thought from Peter Koestenbaum (www.pib.net). The one that arrived today was interesting in three ways: it quotes Twelfth Night by Shakespeare, which I just happen to be reading as part of a commitment in 2013 to read all of Shakespeare’s plays. In fact, I’m currently in Act 2, Scene 4, the scene just before the quote. Secondly I have just yesterday picked up again a small book I’ve had for over a decade that offers a modern interpretation of the Rule of St. Benedict, the focus of which is to bring a depth of spirit to daily work and living. Finally I’m in the midst of discovering what direction my working life will proceed in.
Greatness is the decision to live, to say yes to the life force, to choose to be constructive. Depression is not only to have given up the will to live (not “lost” it, for you are responsible) but actually to have chosen its converse – to want to die, to be destructive, to obstruct progress – for the depressed person is not only sad but chooses not to be helped.
Shakespeare, in Twelfth Night (act 2, scene 5), writes, “Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” How much attention do you give to greatness? ….
The ethical leadership decision to bond meaning with work can go only two ways: resign from work and choose something else that leads to authentic meaning (even though also to poverty), or – and this is what really matters – invest with profound and self-chosen meaning the work that you are now actually doing – or could be doing. That is the Zen of work, the decision to sanctify the work you do – not because the company requires it (which of course it does) but because the salvation of your soul demands that what you do every day be crafted like a poem, be composed like a work of art and illumined by a halo of profound significance.
January 3, 2013