Advent II – The Week of Peace

The second week of Advent brings the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. While the liturgical calendar marks this day as a reminder of God’s perfect love for Mary, the Church also calls this week the “Week of Peace.” In the Gospel of John, Jesus assures us:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

What does that peace look like in the boardroom, the project room, or the home office? It begins with clarity of process. A calm, orderly way of working that frees our minds to focus on what truly matters.

Why December Feels Like a Sprint (and Why That’s OK)

• Year end wrap up – budgets, contracts, and deliverables all converge.
• Future planning pressure – Q1 and Q2 forecasts are already on the horizon.
• Customer side deadlines – clients are also racing to finish their own year end tasks.

All of this creates a natural sense of urgency. Yet, when we conflate busyness with productivity, we lose the “peace” that Advent invites us to experience.

Peace Through Clarity: Three Business Ready Principles

1. Simplify: Trim redundant steps, eliminate “nice to have” tasks that don’t serve the year end goal.
2. Prioritize: Identify the ONE deliverable that will have the greatest impact for the next fiscal year and focus the team on it.
3. Communicate: Use a single source of truth (a shared dashboard, a concise weekly status email) so that no one is guessing.

When clarity replaces chaos, the mind is no longer juggling a thousand to dos; it is free to listen to the still, small voice of peace.

Practical Steps to Bring “Peace Process” Into Your Organization

1. Run a 15 Minute “Clarity Huddle” : Each team member states the single most important task they will finish today. The leader notes any blockers and assigns a quick “remediation” owner.
2. Create a “Peace Board”: A visual board (physical or digital) that displays: What’s Done (celebrate wins), What’s Next (clear next steps) & What’s Blocked (receive immediate help)
3. Adopt a “One Page Process” Policy: Any workflow that exceeds one page of description must be re engineered. Simpler processes reduce hand offs, errors, and stress.
4. Schedule “Quiet Hours”: Block a daily 30 minute window where meetings are forbidden; staff use it for focused work or brief prayer/meditation. Research shows that uninterrupted work increases perceived peace by 40 %.
5. Reflect at the End of the Week: In a short “Advent Review”, ask: “Where did we experience peace? Where did we feel chaos?”

In this season of busyness and constant hustle, we invite you to take time for peace, process, and clarity, this week and into the new year. Wishing you a blessed, peaceful, and clearly organized Advent!

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