The Founder of the Feast is a strong and sound economy. The food, the clothes, the furniture, the heat, the light, and every other manifestation of material well?being has been derived from an association with the almighty and benevolent entity called business.
Presenting the workplace- the arena of the machine. For most, it is a site where one relates to technology in all of its various expressions. Surrounded by those ersatz colleagues, the business of making a living occurs. All that is contained in human emotion and intellect finds a role upon that stage. Considering all of the innate characteristics of business, would you expect meditation, prayer, and talk of God to be numbered among them? Neither would I. … We would be wrong.
 A recent edition of Fortune magazine proclaimed as its cover story - God and Business: The Surprising Quest For Spiritual Renewal In the American Workplace. The author of the story, senior writer Marc Gunther, stated: "I was amazed at the number of business people, especially baby?boomers, looking for a higher purpose in their lives, willing to talk about their faith publicly, and trying to integrate it into their work." While not a unique occurrence in the history of American business, it is an important and growing phenomenon that could produce global benefits.
The article elicited statements from major business people who freely proclaimed the impact of their faith on the successful way that they conduct their particular business ventures and on the successful way that they live their lives.
"Ultimately, I am working for God. There is no higher calling than to serve God, and that does not mean only within the Church. Ultimately, your life, whether it's work, family or friends, is part of a larger plan."
- Jose Zeilstra, Merger Expert
"We can't and shouldn't and don't want to drive people to a particular religious belief. But we do want people to ask the fundamental questions. What's driving them? What is this life all about."
- Bill Pollard, CEO, ServiceMaster
The quest is to understand the world of business as one in which humane, ethical, and sensitive considerations are necessary to make the entire system worthy of human involvement. It often may not be the most profitable way to conduct business, but it is the right way to do so. Whether a global corporation or a Mom and Pop store, the bottom line needs to be something much more than financial gain. The work of a lifetime is not the product of one's hands, but of one's whole self. Dick Green, President of Blistex and a devout Catholic, states, "I don't think I can make a business decision and ignore who I am."
 Good and evil coexist in this world and humanity is engaged in a struggle to understand both realities and to affirm the right. A dark and sinister presence awaits forever at the door of history. Only the watchfulness and the decisive action of the People of God can repel its force. In every area of human endeavor, the maintenance of a vision profoundly colored in ethical hues is an imperative. The deep thoughts marking this Thanksgiving Day will celebrate the faith and confidence of a people graced by the enduring hope of God's truth and the possibilities present in living that truth.
In the face of the recent tragic events and its effects on the American economy and on the American psyche, the search for a spiritual core to life and for a deeper meaning in the experiences of everyday living has intensified. One must trust that such a well?intentioned pursuit will produce good fruit for all to share.
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