The Sacred Meaning of Everyday Work

(An earlier version was published in 2021 as Sacred Rhythm: A Christian Spirituality for Our 21st Century Work Lives by Robert Tribken.)Your faith and spirituality can help you find deeper meaning and purpose in your work. . Many of us have a deep intuitive desire to connect with something deeper than ourselves; for many this means a deeper awareness of God and the divine mystery as we go through the week. And we have a closely related desire to contribute to the greater good and the well-being of other people through our work. These powerful desires can profoundly affect our work lives if we let them guide us to our deeper purpose.. The Sacred Meaning of Everyday Work will help readers think about the meaning and purpose of their work especially in light of the challenges and opportunities they face.. The author offers practical insights from multiple sources including the Bible contemporary research and experience in business. He invites you to consider these in light of your own faith or spirituality and your own work experience.. These insights extend to both positive and negative aspects of work such as stress work-related burnout interpersonal conflict the development of character strengths (courage integrity hope compassion resilience prudence and humility) and spiritual dimensions of leadership. The book also explores a broad range of spiritual practices that can help us stay spiritually connected during the workday.. The scripture index includes 257 Bible references many of which can be used as a starting point for further reflection and discussion.. Interested? Take a look inside.. Partial Contents:IntroductionReconnecting Spirituality and Our Work LivesThe Challenge of Integration. Chapter One: Genesis - Human Purpose Dignity and PotentialInsights From the First Great Creation Story - Genesis 1Humans as Co-Creators?Our Inherent Dignity and Agency. Chapter Two: Flourishing in the WorkplaceShalom and Flourishing in the BibleContemporary Work-Related ResearchOur Work as Service to Others. Chapter Postscript: The Alleviation of Poverty in the Bible. Chapter Three: What Goes Wrong – Dealing with Sin and AlienationSin and Harmful Actions in the WorkplaceThe Story of Cain as an ExampleA Story of Greed and Excessive Self-ConcernTemptation and the Downward SpiralRestoring Shalom and Relationships After Sin. Chapter Four: What Goes Wrong – Overcoming Misfortune and AdversityFailure and SetbacksStressBurnoutConflict. Chapter Five: Cultivating Character StrengthsCollaboration and the Values We Bring to Our WorkA Spiritual Connection?IntegrityCourageCompassionHumilityPrudenceResilienceHope. Chapter Six: Spiritual Practices for Your WorkdayThoughts on PrayerExamples of Short Spiritual Practices for Your WorkdayReflecting On Our Work - The Prayer of ExamenThe Sabbath as a Spiritual Practice. Chapter Seven: Can Your Work Be Your Calling?What Do We Mean by Calling?Expressing Our True SelfBenefits of a CallingDownsidesImplications for the OrganizationWhat If My Work Cannot Be My Calling?How Do We Develop a Calling?. Chapter Eight: Spiritual Dimensions of LeadershipThe Inner Life of LeadersToxic LeadershipMoral DevelopmentThe Shalomic Organization. Appendix A: Work in the BibleAppendix B: Work in the Twenty-First CenturyAppendix C: Spirituality and the State of FlowAppendix D: The Opportunity for Churches. EndnotesBibliographyScripture IndexName and Subject Index