Bracha
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al s’firat haomer.
Blessed are You, LORD God, ruler of the Universe, who hallows us with the mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.
Today is the forty-first day — five weeks and six days of the Omer.
Today’s Reflection
In 2013, after years of working in a career that I didn’t love, transforming my life with a new community, new job and new perspective, I was finally ready to embark on the education journey that I dreamed of - starting my Masters degree in Organizational Leadership at Gonzaga University. Despite having a law degree and practicing as a defence lawyer and crown attorney for years, I always felt that it was not my life’s true calling, or my life’s work. Yes, I was passionate about social justice and advocacy, but I always sensed criminal litigation was not to be my calling.
Rabbi Kedar writes, “To be in service to something larger than ourselves is true greatness. It is the work of our lives. Let there be no confusion, you may not be earning a living by doing your work. Your work is a contract with God. It requires you to use your unique abilities, your natural inclination, and your passion” (Kedar, pg. 136). While I certainly agree that one’s job should not be confused with one’s “work”, in my case, the they are inextricably linked.
My MA-ORGL program at Gonzaga was life-changing. With each course, my passion for servant leadership deepened. Prior to my coursework, I didn’t have the language to articulate my leadership style, but I could see that mine was different from the traditional/hierarchical leadership style of those around me. My greatest call in life is to serve, empower others, and an unwavering commitment to the flourishing of those whom I serve. While I’m imperfect in this at some times (hence I define myself as a life-long “servant-leader-in-training”), I aspire to live my life and engage in my work with a servant' leader’s heart.
Many folks view their job as a pay cheque, as a means to an end, but I have always fully embraced my job as “my work”. In my current work life, I have served as CEO for a First Nation, and I have dedicated my time, energy and inner resources to the growth and flourishing of the Nation. My “work” is deeply engaged in my passion for social justice, advocacy for equality and Indigenous sovereignty, politicking for the advancement of the Nation; but also in the growth and development of the individuals I work with. This is indeed the greatest honour of my life - the intersection of my work and my “work”; and Rabbi Kedar says it best: “Stay true to your Work. It is your greatest legacy” (Kedar, pg. 136).
And so it is. Amen.