Despite a common knowledge and understanding of the value of unity, there is also nothing more common in organizations than divisive conflict. In this episode of By Your Life, we’ll talk about how to bring unity to our organizations, teams, and families by imitating the King of justice, love, and peace.

Mass Readings Audio
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/2019/19_11_24.mp3

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – November 24, 2019

Welcome to the eighty-seventh episode of By Your Life. I’m Lisa Huetteman and I know that you have a hundred different things you could be doing right now, so I thank you for choosing By Your Life.

My goal is to inspire, empower, support, challenge, and encourage you to connect Sunday, with Monday-Friday, in a secular, business world. It’s my desire to help you live our Catholic faith in the marketplace. I hope to offer you practical ways to go forth and glorify the Lord by your life.

In this edition, we’ll reflect on the readings for The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. It is that time of year again when we start to get ahead of ourselves. My neighbor’s house has had Christmas lights up for two weeks. Every other street corner has a tent filled with trees for sale. And, Black Friday sales started a week ago Tuesday. The turkey isn’t even thawed, let alone cooked and shared in Thanksgiving to God and others, and we’re well into the Christmas season. But this is not the case for the Church, for this week, the Church reminds us to hold on… back up a little and remember who is the “reason for the season” and why. So, as we head into work with week, instead of fast-forwarding to Christmas, let’s celebrate the end of the liturgical year and give honor and glory to Christ, King, and Lord of the Universe.

Irish poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde wrote, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” If we, in our mediocrity, want to praise and honor the greatness of Christ our King, let’s imitate him. To do that, I’d like to reflect on two themes from this week’s readings that highlight the greatness of Christ’s kingship that we can imitate as we head to work this week. They are, creating unity and humility.

Let’s start with creating unity. Our first reading from the Second Book of Samuel was about the anointing of David as King of Israel. After years of division, all the tribes of Israel were once again united under David. In our second reading from the Letter to the Colossians, it is Jesus, the New David who brings unity, for “in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church.” (Col 1:17-18)

For centuries, humans have acknowledged the benefits of unity and the consequences of division. The Greek storyteller Aesop, who lived in the 6^th century BC, told the fable about the Four Oxen and the Lion that goes like this:

A Lion used to prowl about a field in which Four Oxen used to dwell. Many a time he tried to attack them; but whenever he came near they turned their tails to one another, so that whichever way he approached them he was met by the horns of one of them. At last, however, they fell a-quarrelling among themselves, and each went off to pasture alone in a separate corner of the field. Then the Lion attacked them one by one and soon made an end of all four.

Jesus also warns us of the peril of disunity. He said “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him.” (Mk 3:24-26 and Mt 12:25-26, Lk 11:17-18) A couple hundred years ago, Founding Father Patrick Henry used the phrase, “United we stand; divided we fall.”, his last speech. The phrase has almost become cliché, but the thing about clichés is that they are usually true.

Despite this common knowledge and understanding of the value of unity, there is also nothing more common in organizations than divisive conflict. While conflict is a natural part of human interaction and relationships, divisive conflict damages relationships.

It is natural that whenever there are two or more people coming together to create a team, department, company or community, varying perspectives and opinions will inevitably lead to disagreement. In the right environment, different perspectives create a positive influence that leads to better decisions. However, in toxic environments, conflict poisons and progress is halted.

To address natural conflict, leaders of prosperous organizations set a clear vision that unites the team with a passion for mov­ing forward through conflict. They understand that they are responsi­ble for continuously keeping the team focused on the vision and mission of the organization. When conflict arises about what to do, this leader makes sure everyone keeps their sights on where they are going. Decision making becomes a function of the best approach to achieve that common goal.

Toxic organizations, on the other hand, are plagued by internal competition that’s fueled by the ego and pride of their leaders. They lack a shared vision, so decisions become a battle of individual agendas. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the solution to this problem exists with these same people. If you are part of a toxic organization, the good news is that the solution to the problem exists within you.

Which type of organization do you want to belong to? Which type do you want to lead?  I know, this is a rhetorical question.

A few years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing and writing an article about Bill Yeargin, President, and CEO of Correct Craft, the company that is known by its Nautique brand and reputation for building high-quality ski and wakeboard boats. When Bill took over as the fifth CEO in as many years, the company was struggling with internal turmoil. He told me that when he came to Correct Craft, the company was going through a very difficult transition from family to professional management. It was holding itself out publicly as a Christian company but behind the scenes relationships within the ownership, the family was significantly strained.

This was in 2006 when the economy was on the brink of what has come to be known as the deepest recession since the Great Depression. It wasn’t long before the economic crisis took center stage requiring Bill to begin directing a strategic planning process to identify what was needed to be done throughout the company in order for Correct Craft to stay afloat, (No PUN intended!)

When they recruited him, Bill was attracted to the company because it was built on a foundation of integrity, ethics, and faith. So, Bill felt it was important that the operational changes they were going to make did not impact who they were at their core.  He led the organization through a strategic planning process and worked hard to get buy-in from the key players. He believed his role was to set the vision, hire good people, and then get out of the way.

From its inception, Correct Craft operated under simple, yet profound philosophies: integrity, ingenuity, and servitude. Yet their mission statement was some convoluted wordy proclamation that nobody remembered, let alone understood. So, Bill returned the company’s focus to its true mission, “Building Boats to the Glory of God”, and a vision focused on “Making Life Better.”

Bill Yeargin’s leadership is based on unity and humility. He knew that he needed to unite the company around a meaningful vision and mission, and he knew he needed to rely on his capable leadership team. These efforts continue to pay off today as Nautique consistently wins every customer satisfaction award offered to their industry and the Nautique dealers are regularly recognized on the Top 100 list every year.

As Catholic Christians who celebrate Christ as King, we must recognize that, as Pope Francis said, “Christ is [not] the king of another world, but that he is king in another manner; he is king in this world.” If we want to solve this problem of conflict and division that exists in our organizations we have to change our logic. The pope said, “Worldly logic is based on ambition, competition, it fights using the weapons of fear, extortion, and the manipulation of consciences. On the other hand, the logic of the Gospel, that is, the logic of Jesus, is expressed in humility and gratuitousness.

The pope said, “The kingdoms of this world at times are sustained by arrogance, rivalries and oppression.” If you witness these symptoms you need to treat them with the antidotes of Christ, “the kingdoms of justice, love and peace.”

These are words that are easy to throw around but more difficult to live. Justice is not revenge, rather justice is righteousness. Love is not a feeling, rather love is willing the good of the other. Peace is not a two-fingered sign. It is a life of harmony and freedom from oppression. To live justice, love, and peace, we have to choose justice, love, and peace. And choosing justice, love, and peace, means choosing a life centered on Christ.

And this is why the Church instituted this feast day. It was to remind an increasingly secular world that only by acknowledging our beginning and end in Christ will we find peace, justice, freedom, and happiness. Christ is the authentic measure of all creation, including governments, states, societies, and our business communities. Today, we need to be reminded that while governments and ideologies come and go, Christ reigns as King forever.

As we head into the office, out into the field, or into the marketplace this week, let’s reflect on how our work-life begins and ends in Christ. Let’s take a lesson from Bill Yeargin and Correct Craft in that whatever we do, whomever we serve, whatever we make, let’s do it for the glory of God. So, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us.

Come Holy Spirit, help us to recognize that real kingly power lies in God’s self-emptying love for us. Help us to imitate him in all we do, so that through humble service to others we may glorify him by our lives.

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