{"id":287233,"date":"2016-08-25T08:03:32","date_gmt":"2016-08-25T13:03:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/?p=287233"},"modified":"2016-08-25T17:38:29","modified_gmt":"2016-08-25T22:38:29","slug":"drink-like-catholic-professional","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2016\/08\/drink-like-catholic-professional\/","title":{"rendered":"Drink like a Catholic (Professional)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Drink<\/p>\n

Let me begin by clarifying – I don\u2019t mean drink like it\u2019s your job. Unless of course, you\u2019re a sommelier.<\/span><\/p>\n

The past two years, I have published posts about the relationship between our faith and drinking. I still get some interesting questions and discussions about the topic. If you haven\u2019t, I recommend reading <\/span>Drink like a Catholic<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Drink like a Catholic (at a bar)<\/span><\/a> for better context for this conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Austin is a cosmopolitan city where it\u2019s common to mix drinks with work. As common as it has become, there is still a learning curve for designating lines of appropriateness and professionalism. I would like to continue this conversation with a focus for this area.<\/span><\/p>\n

Drinks After Work<\/b><\/h3>\n

\u201cIn Catholicism, the pint, the pipe and the Cross can all fit together.\u201d <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u2013 GK Chesterton<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Drinks after work is as old fashioned as professionalism. Although, there\u2019s a big difference in opening up a brew at home instead of walking to happy hour down the road. Even if you don\u2019t go there with people from the office, it\u2019s important to remember that they could show up there too. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s always surprising how small the world can be, especially when you narrow it down to your field of expertise. As Christians, we should always be aware that our life is a witness to our neighbors, but as professionals, we have to also be conscience of the professional reputation that we build on and off the clock. <\/span><\/p>\n

With moderation, a margarita could also be a conduit for great conversation at your next after-hours networking event. It’s also important to remember that drinks aren’t necessary, so it’s fine to turn them down.<\/span><\/p>\n

Drinks with Coworkers<\/b><\/h3>\n

Sometimes the best drinking companions are \u00a0friends from the office. It\u2019s incredible how conversations over an ale can bring new meaning to breaking bread. It can also have surprisingly similar effects to a shared meal with your teammates.<\/span><\/p>\n

With temperance, libations can be a very effective social lubricant. In fact, I found these time to be some of the best primers to speak directly to hearts that were unknowingly seeking Jesus. I\u2019m not advocating proselytizing at the bar, because that will never work. Building connections with coworkers is the first step in walking with someone in faith. It\u2019s amazing how a Cuba Libre can bring a \u00a0freedom to speak about the important issues in life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Drinking at work<\/b><\/h3>\n

This might seem strange to some, but drinking on the clock and even in the office is becoming more common in tech cities in Austin. In particular, agencies and startups have influenced the rise of the office drinking culture.<\/span><\/p>\n

Christianity aside, there is plenty to be cautious about <\/span>drinking at work<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0The rise of office drinking requires maturity and self-control, and anyone that doesn\u2019t take it seriously will eventually lose their job.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDrink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable. Never drink when you are wretched without it, or you will be like the grey-faced gin-drinker in the slum; but drink when you would be happy without it, and you will be like the laughing peasant of Italy. Never drink because you need it, for this is rational drinking, and the way to death and hell. But drink because you do not need it, for this is irrational drinking, and the ancient health of the world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

-Chesterton<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

7 Tips for Drinking Like a Catholic Professional<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Ratzingerandapint\"<\/p>\n

1. Don\u2019t forget that a work happy hour isn\u2019t like party at your friend\u2019s house<\/b><\/h4>\n

This may seem obvious, but a change in environment or location doesn\u2019t mean people won\u2019t notice your behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Free drinks don\u2019t make it a race<\/b><\/h4>\n

Pace yourself, be sure to have food in your stomach, and learn to appreciate sips of your drinks. Most importantly, be grateful that you live in a place where your job or even provides drinks.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. Always remember that it\u2019s not a requirement to drink<\/b><\/h4>\n

There are times when the social pressure of the office culture feels like drinking is a requirement, but everyone always has the freedom to turn it down without losing their job. If you notice that someone isn\u2019t drinking, then it\u2019s best to not even bring attention to it. You never know why they chose not to drink. They could be working on sobering up an addiction or trying to get pregnant. Either way, it\u2019s safe not to address it unless they bring it up.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Participate when you can, even if you chose not to drink<\/b><\/h4>\n

Casual environments are some the most valuable face time that you have to grow your career. Order a virgin cocktail or a soda and enjoy your time. As an additional plus, staying fully sober can be incredibly valuable for helping friends get home if they\u2019ve had too much. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

5. Know when to stop<\/b><\/h4>\n

No matter where you fall relative to your companions or even your boss, hold strong to your conviction of when you should stop. To maintain professionalism, this should be even more temperate than a night with friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Romans 13:13<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

6. Don\u2019t judge others<\/b><\/h4>\n

We\u2019re all broken and have our own failures. It\u2019s possible that the new guy at the office of even a long time director had a few too many. Unfortunately, some people may get caught up in the emotion of the moment and forget where they are, but it won\u2019t help to hold it against them. At the same time, do what you possibly can to help.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

7. Developing virtue helps to have more fun<\/b><\/h4>\n

As mentioned in the previous posts, virtue is what will ensure that you make the best decisions. The more you develop and practice virtue, the less you have to worry about it, and the more you can intuitively hear the still small voice to counter vice and sin. Keep yourself in check and recognize when you\u2019re not in control or in a good situation and don\u2019t hesitate to take the appropriate action. Never forget that if you fall, the love and mercy of Jesus is ready to heal you in the sacrament of reconciliation. Making it regular will be one of the most effective ways to build virtue and holier habits.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGo, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

-Ecclesiastes 9:7<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let me begin by clarifying – I don\u2019t mean drink like it\u2019s your job. Unless of course, you\u2019re a sommelier. The past two years, I have published posts about the relationship between our faith and drinking. I still get some interesting questions and discussions about the topic. If you haven\u2019t, I recommend reading Drink like… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[90,91],"tags":[965,3214,471],"class_list":{"0":"post-287233","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-faith-blog","7":"category-young-adult","8":"tag-alcohol","9":"tag-drinks","10":"tag-work","11":"entry","12":"has-post-thumbnail"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":150060,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/09\/catholics-drink-like-saints-catholicism-and-alcohol\/","url_meta":{"origin":287233,"position":0},"title":"Catholics Drink Like Saints: A Response to Discussions of Catholicism and Alcohol","author":"Lindsay Wilcox","date":"September 15, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I was blessed to attend a college friend's Baptist wedding reception (and the wedding) once, and I had a fantastic time. 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Austin is a fun-loving city that enjoys listening to live music and drinking delicious local beers and liquors. In the professional world, drinking cocktails is often a part of doing business and working as a team. In the church world, several ministries\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Young Adult"","block_context":{"text":"Young Adult","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/young-adult\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Connoisseur (a.k.a. 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In that part of Texas, Baptist Christians have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Drink Like a Catholic","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/DrinkLikeACatholic.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":74938,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/12\/top-10-austin-cnm-posts-2014\/","url_meta":{"origin":287233,"position":3},"title":"Top 12 Austin CNM Posts of 2014","author":"Crist\u00f3bal Almanza Herrera","date":"December 31, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The end of a year always presents a good time for reflection. This year, Facebook's algorithms have filled our news feeds with an auto-generated look back at our friend's years. This one wasn't automatically computed because the following list only includes posts that were written in 2014 and also excludes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"AustinCNM","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/AustinCNM-Logo-Veritcal-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":290434,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2016\/09\/atx-catholic-meetup-september-7\/","url_meta":{"origin":287233,"position":4},"title":"ATX Catholic Meetup – September 7","author":"ATX Catholic","date":"September 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Come have dinner and\/or drinks for a social night and open discussions on current events and Catholic media. These meet ups are intimate events with an opportunity to have face time with other interested in Catholic media in our area. 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While my more experienced cohorts in the ACNM were suggesting that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"NCI_Visuals_Food_Beer","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/NCI_Visuals_Food_Beer-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=287233"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287233\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=287233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=287233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=287233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}