Loving our work

WE have to understand that our work, whatever it is,

whether it is high or low, is our usual way to give praise and glory

to God. It is actually our way of cooperating in the abiding

providence of God. We should not underestimate the value of our work.

It can and should be our path to heaven.

            That is why we should see to it first of all that our work

is what God wants us to do. Our attitude toward our work should not be

conditioned mainly, much less, solely, by the fact we like a

particular kind of work or that we have the aptitude toward it, or the

relevant qualities and skills for it. While these factors matter, they

should not be the main criterion. Such attitude can only confine us to

our own interest.

            What should guide us is what God and the others want and

need from us, and how they want to be served. This attitude should

determine the kind of work we do and the way we do it, and would bring

us to tackle the objective requirements of the common good.

            Having determined that, we should love our work, doing it

as best as we can. And this can mean that we carry it out very

conscientiously, “squeezing” each hour for all it is worth. We should

work in such a way that we would always be short of time for finishing

what we would like to do?

            It can also mean that we look very carefully after the

details in finishing well our daily work. We should lovingly exert the

necessary effort for it and embrace the sacrifices involved—that is,

the setbacks, the difficulties, the tiredness and fatigue.

            These are normal occurrences in our daily work that we

should not anymore be surprised about. We just have to be prepared for

them, since they are occasions to grow in our love for God and others.

In short, in our holiness.

            We should see to it that we are always eager to work,

always guarding ourselves from the threats of laziness and idleness,

and the many improper distractions that usually come our way.

            We have to take stock of the dangers that can undermine

our capacity to work and to work well. They can be certain undue

attachments to things, like games, shopping, daydreaming, or some

disorder in the way we work, or the bad spirit of complacency and

routine that can stealthily enter into our way of working. We have to

react to these dangers immediately.

            Another clear manifestation of our love for our work is

when we are eager to upgrade our skills and competence in our work.

Especially in these rapidly changing times, we need to be constantly

updated. We cannot stay stagnant in a certain level. We should also

learn to be highly adaptable, creative and versatile so as to catch up

with the fast-shifting developments.

            Most important is to review those aspects of our faith

that are more directly related to our work. Our work is not just a

purely technical affair. It has a highly spiritual and moral dimension

and apostolic purpose.