Faith @ WorkNäide

Do you ever ask, “Who is my neighbor?” Neighbors come from surprising places. Your neighbor is different from my neighbor. Neighbors can be down the street, in the office, on the team, or halfway across the world. Neighbors can be the same ethnicity as you, or not. Neighbors might support different political parties. Whoever your neighbors may be, they are people created in the image of God, people like you, with hopes and dreams; people who need to know that they are precious, that they are important, and that they are loved.

Are your neighbors only those people who are your friendly customers, or the outgoing coworkers who go the extra mile to make your job and the workplace a fun place to work? Do your neighbors include colleagues who live paycheck to paycheck, wondering if they are next on the lay-off list? Is the new employee who is struggling to learn the ropes and do his job or the employee who is creating more work for you also your neighbor? Is your supervisor your neighbor?

Out of love for the Lord your God, when you see that person who desperately needs a neighbor, choose to love him or her as yourself, even as Christ first loved you. You have been filled with the Holy Spirit, the Comforter who will guide you into all truth and wisdom so that you can discern who your neighbors are and how best to love them. As you rest in your Father’s love, you will find the strength today, this moment, to love your coworkers. If you ask him, he gives you the grace to hear their hearts, hopes, and dreams. Truly, you can love your neighbors because Christ first loved you.

Prayer

Almighty God, thank you for your great love for me. You ask me to love others as I love myself. I cannot do this on my own strength, so I ask you to walk beside me and fill me with your love for my coworkers, for those who desperately need a neighbor. Amen.