We received today, this note from our friend, Ted Lucas, of Lattice Capital Management LLC in response to Al Lunsford’s post on Business as Missions.

“I read your post yesterday and linked to Dan’s article on Bach (Big in Japan: J.S. Bach + The Meaning of Work). I liked them so much that we ended up using them for discussion materials for my men’s group this morning. Great stuff that provoked a fantastic discussion about what the hallmarks of excellence are for our respective professions. Like Bach, the “beauty” is often subtle and nuanced – a series of little things that sometimes nobody but God sees, but when you add them all up it makes the difference between mere notes placed on a page and an arrangement that has tremendous power….even to evoke noble themes such as hope (as noted in Dan’s article about Bach’s work). My mind is already spinning with the metaphors between music composition and the art of constructing and managing investment portfolios.”

We believe that a better understanding of the biblical meaning and purpose of work should stimulate creativity and innovation in business.

Take a page from our friend, Ted, and discuss these questions with your colleagues.

• What are the hallmarks of excellence in your profession?
• Read the article on Bach. How might this example transform the hallmarks of excellence?
• What are the “subtle and nuanced” little things that add up to create for your profession a “musical composition” of great power, and that evoke noble themes such as hope?
• How could your profession be practiced in such a way as to bring glory to God without a word being uttered?
• What works or businesses are artful examples of what we are discussing?

Thanks, Ted. We can’t wait to see what you and your friends create, soli deo gloria!