The Cost of Courage

DEAR Mr. Pfister, I am a team leader at my company, and I recently found myself in a situation that has me second-guessing my actions and even fearing for my job. During a recent meeting, my team was trying to make a critical decision regarding a project. The conversation quickly derailed when several team members began using disparaging statements about our customers to justify taking a dishonest or unethical course of action. I spoke up in front of the entire team, defending both my Christian beliefs and the dignity of our customers. While some of my colleagues respected me for speaking up, some have started talking about me behind my back and are threatening to complain to management in an effort to get me fired or forcibly transferred to another team. How do I navigate the consequences of this situation, and how can I stand firm in my beliefs when my livelihood is on the line?

Standing up for what is right is rarely easy, and your situation is an example of that truth. It reminds me of Our Blessed Lord’s Passion. He came for the exact purpose of bringing salvation to all humankind, including the very people who mocked, scourged, and crucified Him. His actions – doing what was good – were met with fierce resistance from those He sought to love and serve, ultimately resulting in His death.

I believe our Lord’s Passion point us toward the answer to your question. Christ reminds us of a difficult truth: doing what is good does not always spare us from opposition and suffering. We are called to imitate Christ and, through this journey, become saints. Part of that sanctification involves doing what is good, even – or especially – when it leads to personal suffering for us.

To help you through this challenging trial, I suggest focusing on three things to help you navigate the consequences and stand firm in your beliefs.

1) Remember Your Motivation: Psychologically, knowing why you did what you did can be the very thing that helps you sleep at night – literally and metaphorically. Revisit your good motivation as often as you face negative consequences.

2) Offer It Up: Offer your current suffering to Our Lord, uniting your anxiety and fear with His Passion so that your suffering may bear greater spiritual fruit, bringing more grace into your own life and into the lives of your team members.

3) Live Purposefully: Your decision was a choice to live by your morals. Studies show that when we align our actions with our values, our overall well-being increases. Continue to live by your values. If you value being hardworking, continue to show up each day and do your job well. In this way, you continue becoming the person you desire to be.

Don’t let the hostile comments of a few colleagues derail you. Continue to live out your values. If you believe in being hardworking, continue to work hard at your job. Be the person God is calling you to be.

You did the right thing by defending your faith and your customers. Stand firm, trust in Divine Providence. This doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences, it means trusting that, whatever comes, God will give you the grace to face it without abandoning what you know to be right.