The Work No One Sees
“[But] take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you” (Matthew 6:1-4).
It’s something you know you have to do, but it can feel fruitless. It’s easy to procrastinate when it comes to the work that doesn’t fit neatly into a job description; you can always justify putting off the things you don’t get evaluated for, the things you can’t invoice, and the work that no one will ever see or appreciate. In a culture that insists on the importance of metrics and measurable results, why take the time to go the extra mile?
Taking the Time to Take the Time
“It’s hard work being thoughtful,” my (thoughtful) mom has always said. “If you want something to get done,” my grandmother (my mom’s mom) told me once, “ask a busy person.”
Both expressions gesture toward the same truth, universally acknowledged, that taking time takes time. Do you want the stellar online reviews? The repeat customers? A good rapport with your co-workers, office mates, or clients? It’s going to take unpaid labor. Whether you’re handwriting thank you notes, throwing in a few free postcards or vinyl stickers, or simply remembering people’s names and the name of their significant other, no one’s going to shine a light over your head for all to see and proclaim to the entire world that you are The Best.
In fact, these things may cost you a bit in the short term, whether it’s the price of the freebies you throw in with your online orders or the time it takes to write those thank you notes. Even routine updates to your website and online presence can be tedious and seem like a waste of time, because you don’t have the engagement or number of followers you would like. These extra things may feel pointless, because the results don’t show up automatically in your bank account. There aren’t always measurable outcomes that fit nicely in a spreadsheet.
That doesn’t mean they’re not worth doing. Remember, in the parable of the talents, the servant who didn’t work to make the most of what he was given didn’t fare best.
Anything Worth Doing
We’ve all heard the phrase “anything worth doing is worth doing well,” and some of us may be familiar with G.K. Chesterton’s twist on the phrase: “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.” For those of us who are disinclined to do the unpaid or unseen labor to keep our business and our life running, it is worth considering that anything worth doing is worth doing in and of itself.
As this article from the American Chesterton Society reminds us, Chesterton’s bon mot about “a thing worth doing” refers to hobbies—to activities that the world largely considers frivolous and unnecessary yet are crucial to human flourishing because of the way they engage our faculties and glorify God.
From a more practical standpoint, paying your bill from your internet service provider may seem like wasted productivity, since the time you spend posting the payment is time you could spend producing. However, if you don’t pay your internet service provider, you don’t have a website for clients to find and place orders in the first place.
The same principle applies to things like customer experience and your contribution to the culture of your workplace. By taking the time to be thoughtful, considerate, and attentive to the needs of others, you are sowing seeds of relationship and community.
Go With Him Two
Do you need to create a customer experience that includes handwritten thank yous? No, of course not. However, if you’ve identified yourself as a Catholic at work or in your business, consider that you have automatically placed yourself in the position of ambassador.
Once your co-workers, clients, or customers know they are dealing with a Catholic, your actions become a reflection of Christ. Suddenly, the little thoughtful things, the tedious responsibilities, the drudgery of different aspects of your work life, take on a new resonance. They are sanctified, because you’ve been baptized into the Body of Christ.
Wherever and however you work, it is good to be mindful of Christ’s desire for his followers: that if someone presses you into service to walk a mile, you are to go with them two miles (Matthew 5:1). Do so not because it will get you a promotion or line your pockets but because you’re a Catholic. As such, you’re called to humility, to make the most of your gifts and your vocation, and to be Christ’s hands and feet.
There will always be work no one sees, but your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you.
Maggie Phillips is a freelance writer and military spouse with three small children and an incredibly patient husband. Follow her work at mrsmaggiephillips.com and on Instagram at @maggies_words.