We've all been there in one form or another: a misunderstanding with a team member, a week where every deadline seems to fall, a project that just seems to meet one obstacle after the other. During challenging times at work, we can lose sight of the big picture and get stuck dragging our feet through the muck.

In the life of a Catholic woman in business, beginnings can feel painfully uncertain. Surrounded by announcements, launches, promotions, and success stories, we can begin to treat formation as an obstacle to our “real” work rather than as part of God’s work within us.

I believe we must say yes to situations that are uncomfortable. Truly living as a Catholic in today’s society can be pretty uncomfortable, but I believe we can learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable, and maybe that is truly how God created us to be.

My mom is a special education teacher and former Special Olympics coach. Growing up, I had insights into the needs and gifts of people with intellectual, learning, and developmental disabilities in particular. Her experience also showed me how far our culture needs to go in order to fully include people of all physical, intellectual, and emotional abilities.

To understand the importance of St. Verena’s living witness to the faith, we must understand the world she was born into. Imagine choosing Christianity, not only as your faith tradition, but as your political and social environment as well. Then imagine that Christians were regularly arrested, taken to Rome, and martyred before a roaring crowd, amassed to watch you suffer and die.

You cannot shame a guard dog into standing down, and you certainly cannot out-hustle him. He has one job, and he takes it very seriously. Your body’s nervous system is the exact same way.