"Let's say that some friends invite you
over to dinner, so that you can meet Ms. Aberdeen Abels, a self-made
entrepreneur and prominent business tycoon. Not only is this dinner an
opportunity to further your social influence and build that
all-important network of relationships, it also has the making of that 'big break' you and your partners at the firm have so long desired.
"Simply put, Aberdeen is looking to
buy, and you are eager to sell. If you play your cards right, if she
decides to invest in your company, your future (and your children's
future, and their children's
future) is financially secure. But if you 'drop the ball,' if you
squander this opportunity, if you leave without an offer, you jeopardize
your career. . . .
"You arrive at their house shortly
before eight o’clock, just in time for the hors d'oeuvres. At one
o'clock, precisely five hours after your arrival and two hours before
your departure, you haven't stopped smiling, there being nothing that
you could say or do that didn't interest the guest of honor.
"Toward morning the conversation takes
a turn toward religion and Aberdeen, upon learning that you are
Catholic, begins to talk about the Church. She calls the celibate
priesthood 'old-fashioned' but 'commendable,' given the natural 'desire
of man' to 'make babies.' She also mentions the Eucharist and her
particular fondness for the 'symbolism' at work in the sacrament, even
going so far as to call it 'a pretty good symbol' for Jesus’ message of 'peace and justice.'
"At this last remark, you pause, not yet knowing how to respond, if to respond, or when to respond.
"The Eucharist is not just a symbol.
"You look at Aberdeen. She smiles back,
oblivious. She continues her commentary with something about Pope
Francis and why she 'absolutely adore[s] him.' You don't say anything,
and the moment passes.
"When you leave the apartment at half
past three, you feel somewhat sick, not because of anything you ate or
drank, but because you punted on the opportunity of a lifetime. To be
clear, you leave with a handshake deal (a gentleman’s agreement) in
place. Aberdeen is on board. But you still feel as though you left
something on the table, something unsaid. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Brother Maximilian Maria Jaskowak, O.P., reflected on missed opportunities to be an ambassador for Christ and His Church.
To access Br. Maximilian Maria's complete post, please visit:
Dominicana: A Missed Opportunity (18 OCT 19)
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