Work and rest

A YOUNG friend of mine, who is a wizard on the computer and more so on the piano and organ, told me once about his amusing experience while training for his work in Japan.

We, of course, know that the Japanese have a high standard in work ethic. Their danger often is to overwork. Ours seems to be to underwork.

Because of certain reasons, this friend could not afford to stay later than 5 o’clock. This is a no-no in Japanese offices. No one leaves before the bosses, and the bosses usually leave already late in the evening.

So he explained his predicament to his boss, who grudgingly approved. But he was made to go through a certain routine. When he had to leave, he should stand by the door and then say:

“Osaki ni shitsureishimasu.” (Sorry! I have to leave now ahead of you.)

Then the other Japanese officemates would say: “Otsukaresamadeshita.” (You may leave! You worked hard already.)

It seems that’s how the Japanese take their work seriously. I can only hope that we Filipinos improve in our work habits. While we can find many who work hard, with order, discipline and effectiveness and efficiency blended well, we can also find still many others who are simply going around in circles.

Work is part of our nature. It is not a punishment nor a duty forced on us because of certain circumstances. We are meant to work. We are designed to work. We have been born to work just as the birds were born to fly. It’s not our invention.

Besides, our faith teaches us that work is a path to holiness. It is a participation in God’s continuing work in his whole creation. When we work, we touch God, and we get involved in the things of God. It can only be done in God’s way, that is, out of love and for love.

Our work perfects us, as it occasions the development of many virtues. It can’t help but contribute to the common good. In fact, everything we need and ought to be involves work. Our work fosters socialization. It destroys isolation.

This, as long as we work with God and for God. Any kind of work, be it sublime or lowly, as long as it is honorable, not sinful, is always pleasing to God and is in fact working with God.

It’s high time that we develop a theological attitude toward our work. We should not remain in the shallow part. Though we already have good work habits, we should not get contented with them, but rather continue to improve, purify and enrich them by always working with greater love for God and for others.

Of course, if we work hard, then we also need to rest. In the human level, work and rest can constitute a symbiotic relationship. But when related to our spiritual and supernatural destiny, we need to understand that rest acquires a special meaning.

Our Christian faith teaches that rest is not just a physical or bodily need, or a way to recover strength, physical, mental, psychological, emotional, etc. Christian rest, of course, involves all of these, but it is still a lot more.

It means the fullness of our life, the reaching of our final destination, the coronation of our work. It is a symbol of our eternal rest where we enjoy communion both with God and with everybody else.

It would be good to ask ourselves if we are consciously developing this mindset regarding our rest, especially when we go to bed at the end of the day, or when we approach Sunday, which is supposed to be not only the day of the Lord, but also the day of rest.

We have to be aware of the spiritual and supernatural dimension of our rest, and to form the appropriate attitudes and habits. In our Christian life, we have to understand that our attitude towards rest needs to be worked out.

The Christian attitude toward rest just can’t come out spontaneously. God’s grace always needs our cooperation. We have to reach that point when we can sincerely echo St. Augustine’s words:

“Lord, my heart is restless until it rests in you.”

We have to learn how to rest in God. Resting cannot and should not have any other mode than to rest in God always!