The webinar series of the BSCA Practicumers continued as the schedule for the Webinar Number 2 with the topic about the Spirituality in the Workplace that were conducted by the BSCA Department, with the Guest Speaker, Br. Noelvic H. Deloria, S.C., the School President.

The Resource Speaker started the talk about the existence of life. He further discussed that human Is sacred and very clear to their foundation. This is how we make decisions and make our life meaningful because of God's presence in our life. Man is nothing and coming from the dust of the ground; that was what humankind made. But man was considered as sacred as we are alive from the breath of God. Around them, glory and honor with the works as He alone was the earth's creator as everything was prepared. The human, the men, and women are given the right to every being and name every being. Human beings were created on the 6^th day of creation as He gave life to all living things as they will rule other creations (Genesis 1:24-26). Discussing God’s breath in the Gospel, according to Genesis 2:7, the passage explains wherein that the Lord God took some soil from the ground and made a man. God breathed life into the man, and the man started breathing. Going to the topic, the speaker defies the concept of human dignity. This was the sanctity of oneself as this was the perspective of the human church. Using the dignity of one’s self to view reality. From a scientific perspective, a human is a living organism, and this discipline declines to accept the faith and reality of a greater being.

The passage from Psalm 8 related to the Divine Majesty and Human Dignity. This tells a message and the meaning of this scripture. Majesty of God who allows humankind to have dominion over the creatures of the earth. God as the glorious God as we ask and pray to help us to understand who He is and who we are in relationship to Him. Br. Deloria explained the concept of the Imago Dei, as shown in his presentation. Being a human, being an imago dei depicts about the connection between God and Man called the image of God that created the human being and brings himself. We are created according to the image and likeness of God. According to the Gospel of 1Corinthians 3:16, We are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells within us. Reading the verse from Corinthians, if we waste the time of life that were not contributing or not doing something worthwhile, this verse reminded us that this must have supposed to dwell in each of our lives—believing that the God and not letting some negative comments towards others. We are reminded that we are God’s temple that dwells in us, and we make amends and ask ourselves how are we today as we are better than yesterday. Problems came up, and we forgot God. This will be reminded of that. Br. Deloria merely opened up his life as he declared he was an adopted child. Realizing his aunt and uncle as a childless couple gave them hope. His experience showed him that God is willing to give hope to hopeless people, and this must be shared too. He also added to his talk that when we have some troubles with others, we must ask for forgiveness when we cause others too much pain.

To pray is part of our being. Humankind was designed with the capacity to incorporate the spiritual life of God within his human spirit. Prayer is part of the being; when we do this, we are united with our spiritual being. How do we know that God is dwelling in us? Understanding this question answered from another passage from the Gospel according to John 15:5 says, I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me, you can do nothing. This passage further explained that God is our vine, the primary and Almighty whjerein the humankind where the vine's branches. Without him, humanity cannot sustain, live and be fruitful in every action we take. The Resource Speaker also opens this as he posts that this was his favorite passage from the bible; he further discusses that when we are connected to God, we are also inspired because we can barely think about the problems, and we see the goodness within ourselves. Thus we must not forget and cut ourselves from the vine because the vine makes us alive and living worthwhile. As the vine and the branches connected humankind to God Almighty, the fruit of the Spirit doesn’t spoil. If we feel depressed or down, we only need to reconnect. We receive the fruits in us as God dwells in our spirit from within. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.

Next topic that Br. Deloria opened up about the Spirituality of a human person. This comprises the following: First, the spirituality brings us to a deeper awareness of who we are as the body and soul spirit. Sometimes, a life full of mysteries is what and who we are. Second, spirituality is a way of life that contains thoughts, worse, actions, desires, imagination, and decisions that show God's full love for us. Lastly, spirituality serves as lenses that can zoom in or out of spectacle as this perceives life in general. In the present and future of ourselves is the nature of God. Thus, we have to discover/uncover our own spiritual gifts throughout life, just as we do our physical and mental talents. Doing this by discovering oneself on God’s gifts to us.

Most of the context relates to the human dignity of Br. Deloria’s discussion came from the book of Kahlil Gibran (1923), The Prophet. The passage talked about his Frame for Labor (On Work).

“Work that we may keep pace with the earth and soul of the earth. For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life’s procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite. When you work, you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music. Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?”

In a simple context, Br. Deloria further explains that when you love your work no matter how busy you are, you can still enjoy work.

“Always you have been told that work is a curse and labor a misfortune.”

But I say to you that when you work, you fulfill a part of earth’s furthest dream, assigned to you when that fream was born, and in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life, and to love life through labour is to be intimate with life’s inmost secret.”

Explaining the connection of work with the foot. Work is a curse and labor a misfortune. Each of us has the right to be here as we are here to fulfill something. We were here to contribute something for forbearance and find the meaning of work. Br. Deloria was not expecting to be serving & working at the HCDC. He stressed the idea that explaining the work environment as being employed due to connections and the workplace was not that too challenging. If we tend to need help, ask for it as this is important—the idea of being resilient, to bounce back correctly. Just like the ball, having enough pressure could possibly bounce back when this was put too much pressure in dribbling it to the ground. Br. Deloria shared his dialogue with the Holy Crossian, asking why choosing HCDC. After all, Holy Crossian were considered hardworking and established an image of being as one. Holy Crossian were dedicated, endured, and perseverance in the workplace.

“But if you in your pain call birth an affliction and the support of the flesh a curse written upon your brow, then I answer that naught but the sweat of your brow shall wash away that which is written.

You have been told also that life is darkness, and in your weariness you echo what was said by the weary.

And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is urge, and all urge is blind save when there is knowledge, and all knowledge is vain save when there is work, and all work is empty save when there is love; And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself and to one another, and to God.”

This passage reminds us on having the inspiration of working with love. Not having the urge to work is one of the common problems in employment; some leave the organization they were working for. What is knowledge without the desire of yourself? Thus, we must uplift the virtue of love and bind yourself to God that we receive as what did He give to us. Let us weave the clothes from our heart and build affection that you beloved dwelled to us. Work with love by connecting this concept to one of the advertisements of a coffee brand quote and quote, “kanino ka bumabangon?”

“It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit. It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit and to know that all blessed dead are standing about you and watching.”

We are reminded to sow seeds as our loved ones are watching us. When we do good with our work, we can connect what we do here in our life and to the people who are already there. Amidst the hardships we’ve experienced in our work, we must be mindful that all of these will be fruitful at the end of time.

“He who works in marble, and finds the shape of his own soul in the stone, is nobler than he who ploughs the soil. And he who seizes the rainbow to lay it on a cloth in the likeness of man, is more than he who makes the sandals for our feet. But I say, not in sleep but in the over wakefulness of noontide, that the wind speaks not more sweetly to the giant oaks than to the least of all the blades of grass; And he alone is great who turns the voice of the wind into a song made sweeter by his own loving.”

The dignity of a person was not about what you have done. This is about who you really are. The smallest thing to do in life is well-integrated, which is also inspiring. You had all the things and achievements in life but a bad character. With this, were they pleased and genuine with that life? We may continue to inspire as keep inspiring to each people.

“Work is love made visible, and if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.

For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man’s hunger. And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distills a poison in the wine. And if you sing though as angels, and love not the singing, you muffle man’s ears to the voices of the day and the voices of the night.”

This passage about work is love made visible as discussed working centered on contradictions and unhappiness with the workplace. Why are you promoting on the work if you say something about these? Thus, we must learn from our mistakes and be humble with them. We can always make our day better than yesterday. We must ask ourselves if we are happy with these? Thus, this virtue will make our life better and more empowering as it is.

The Workplace Spirituality comprises three which elaborates the EXCELLENCE which brings out the best of who we are and the other, COMMUNITY that builds bridges rather than walls, and TRUTH that sows’ righteousness rather than corruption. Synopsis of the overall discussion of Br. Deloria, the Workplace Spirituality is a genuine love made visible wherever you are and whatever you do. Br. Deloria ended the sharing as he stated a Gospel according to 1 John 4:16, GOD IS LOVE and who abides in love, abides in God & God in him. Wworkplace spirituality is a genuine love that was made visible. Therefore, continue what’s right, work and inspire people, be excellent in whatever we do, and be a community builder and truthful person.

After sharing the Resource Speaker, some BSCA students raised some questions. The first question was about the reconnection of work in absence of love, peace and patience in him, and he wanted to know how he would reconnect to this passion that he had lost. Br. Deloria answered his question as he put up the idea that this person must check first where the passion comes from because this was anchored by the foundation of himself for him to be firm. Then evaluating oneself was one of the assessments if there will be chances to renew or change. If this doesn’t suit him well, that would be the time that there will be a discovery of a new environment. Calling a friend or mentor could help guide you with a new perspective in life and make sure that having a good friend and relationship could listen and help you out in these difficult situations—another question raised by a BSCA student about facing a workplace that had religion bias. The Resource Speaker further accepted that this kind of discrimination between religions exists nowadays. To address this concern, putting yourself the does not suits you may get you hurt and unhappy. There were so many things for us to enjoy, working in an environment that respects us and making the best version of ourselves. Promoting interreligious dialogues was one of the effective ways to disseminate these biases we encounter in the workplace. Mr. Lozano added the idea during the open forum as he relayed that there were biases we encountered. Still, we should know ourselves better whether we have different religions that divide us, but we are as one as we were created in God's same image and likeness. Br. Deloria agreed with what Mr. Lozano said as we have no control over what other people think. We can’t dictate them as long as we can change or control ourselves in a good way by influencing them. Another question was raised about considering a successful person without human dignity & spirituality. Br. Deloria answered the question by discussing the context differences between success and happiness. We can be successful but not happy. Losing a grip on spirituality drives to loss of oneself. Having a dream was only a shadow of God’s dream for me, which will give me happiness and dignity. We can be successful but will drive you to suicide because you lose grip of God’s wealth inside you. Another question raised about how to face struggles and difficulties in life, whether hardship makes a person stronger, and, if so, what were the conditions and the point of too much hardship. If not, what does make a person stronger. Then the Resource Lecturer answered this in relation to the depiction of an egg, a carrot, and a coffee bean. When these are put in boiling water, the fragile egg becomes hard, the soft carrot begins to solid hard, while the coffee bean emits an aroma that can be sipped and enjoyed. In this story, you can be an egg, a carrot, or a coffee bean in how you react to such things you encounter in life. Situations will always be there; you should know how to respond accordingly. Sir Lozano further concluded the sharing as he added that things we do affect how we react to the situation. You should see if you can do it or not. Regardless of the problem, know if you can go through it despite your limitations. You should also go to God for guidance and hope. We control ourselves to pursue what we can and give up those we cannot. Br. Deloria followed up the sharing as he opened up the idea of looking at the strength in ourselves. Follow the 5Ds - Data: look at the situation and opportunities; Dialogue with other people: converse with others for perspective; Discern: you look into the gospel, scripture where you can anchor yourself to guide you on how you proceed; Decide: anchor to discernment; Drive: implement and make actions. The last question a student asked was about how to deal with the situation where you are torn between choosing your passion or practicality. Br. Deloria answered as he shared that his passion was connected with truth, but we need money. For example, accepting a bribe implies giving up your soul for that price. Therefore, we should invest in our spiritual and eternal dignity rather than material things. These decisions in life were the tests, but we should find where is love in those situations that God guided. You can choose either but look into its fruits, wherein a tree is also assessed by the kind of fruit it yields. Mr. Lozano added as he said that we need to comprise. At the end of the day, we have an ultimate employer: God. He should be able to praise you once you see him in eternal life.