"Real" Work

The happy disruptions of family during last week's March Break has reminded me again that I often settle for a rather narrow definition of what I consider my 'real' work.  

I said it to Ken last night as we were going over the plans for the week ahead.  I said that, for this coming week, I want to get down to doing some 'real' work.  What I was referring to was things I mostly do at my desk, with my computer, and/or at meetings with groups or individuals.  All the things I report on, keep track of, file, preach, teach, plan and otherwise am responsible for in that space that encompasses my job description as Highview's Missionary in Residence.  

I was contrasting that, of course, to the time spent engaging with (which, let's be honest, mostly means feeding) our grandchildren over several days for the (booming sound effects here please) DOUBLE SLEEPOVER that has become something of a tradition over both the Christmas and March Break weeks.  Actually, it's more than feeding them.  It's all the things that happen when children are in the house, all the good, the bad and the messy of it.  And it's all sensational and happy and exhausting and  hilarious, and requires from me very different kinds of energy than does my 'real' work.

In our chat last night, I also found myself contrasting the work we still need to do on the house to get ready to sell, with the 'real' work of my life, suggesting this week would be made up of mornings focusing on the latter and afternoons on the former.  As if, even with the clear understanding that our move is very much in line with how we believe God is leading us, there was a distinction.

Except, something makes me want to stop and think this through again.

What is 'work' anyways?

Especially for those who consider themselves followers of Jesus.

What is the 'real work' of our lives?

What an interesting research paper this could be!

But not for this morning.

This morning I'm just remembering again just two of oh so many references to work and work ethic in the Bible.   I'm thinking this just might help me through the 'work week' in a more wholistic frame of mind.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.

Let nothing move you.

Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,

for you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

I'm preparing a sermon using this text (for April 7 at Highview), and exploring what Paul is referring to when he uses the phrase 'work of the Lord.'  Basically, it's anything that is about forgiveness, justice, reconciliation, unleashing potential, protecting the vulnerable, healing, safety, and love.  In other words, anything to do with making things 'on earth as they are in heaven.'  It's a pretty broad job description.

Hebrews 6:10

God is not unjust;

He will not forget your work 

and the love you have shown Him

as you have helped His people

and continue to help them.

Oh I so want to explore this further.  But for now, I'm noticing the clear connection between 'your work' and 'the love you have shown.'  And then the next level of clear connection between loving God and helping people.

Okay, so now it's time to get at it.

Monday morning and all that.

And I do love the time I can spend at my desk, and will relish it with gratitude.

But I am also so very grateful for the other 'work' and 'real' work of my life.

For all those heading into Monday who may or may not have a definitive job description at this point in your life, for whatever reason...

May you find satisfaction in pressing into the 'work' God has laid before you....whatever that looks like!!

Obviously Invisible

 

"God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them."
Hebrews 6:10

A gentle rain will keep us indoors today, I think. And that's okay.

We've had several days in a row of strenuous physical labour tearing down one of the outbuildings on our property. Then yesterday we took a big load of shingles and insulation and pressure treated wood to the dump.

Heavy stuff, 236 kg to be exact. We know how much it was, since in order to pay the fee, we get weighed in and weighed out. And we schlepped all that down the steep hill to the boathouse, onto the boat, off the boat and into the van, and then off the van into the bins at the dump.

We're all tuckered out.

So a day to stay indoors and turn to less physical work is welcome. There's lots on my list that needs my attention now if "all the fall things" are to unfold in any sort of orderly manner. Lots in the works, and it's all very exciting, with so many little/big tasks and important details to make it happen. So today will be all about that, I think.

And maybe baking cookies.

And it strikes me that no matter what we're doing, there's always the bits that are absolutely necessary but get completely overlooked. Everything I just described, even baking the cookies, has obscure elements that, if left undone would render the task undoable, or incomplete. Components so obvious they can become invisible, yet, if not in place, would leave the whole thing unworkable.

Like the hinge on the front screen door of the cottage.

And I'm thinking this morning about the countless folks who serve in so many capacities to make the world a sweeter, kinder, more equitable place. People who understand what they do to be deeply connected to seeing God's will done on earth as it is in heaven. Vocationally or as volunteers.

People who take temperatures, hand out sandwiches, stand by bedsides as folks are dying. Those who drive others to appointments, preach sermons, change adult diapers. People who sit with confused teenagers just to listen, or clean up after a neighbourhood event, or rehearse on a beautiful Saturday afternoon to be ready for a worship service on Sunday. People who answer the phone in the wee hours of the morning. Or patiently explain something yet again to an adult having a tantrum. Or whatever it is that has just come to your mind that you do that's essential but no one seems to notice or appreciate.

And all of it is heavy, but there's no weighing in and weighing out so you can prove how much you've done. And there's no cool black and white close up of it to prove that you're even there just doing your job.

There's just the doing of it, and the very real potential that it gets tedious, and you feel forgotten.

So, on this rainy Wednesday morning, can I just say,
God sees you.
And thank you.
Thank you for being faithful in the invisible tedium of what you do to make the world a sweeter, kinder, more equitable place, moving us ever closer to where God's will is being done on earth as it is in heaven.

Now. I'd better go take the butter out of the fridge to soften, or there won't be any cookies.

I hear Ken making a fire. How cozy!

Let's see what else this day brings.