Don't Let Work Become a "Vain Preoccupation"

Some days, it takes almost every ounce of my time and energy to get through a particularly challenging day at work. Getting the job done well, producing my best work requires a certain amount of focus and thoughtful planning - and then the time and effort to complete each task. Challenging, wouldn't you say?

But the real challenge comes when we face the rest of life - life outside work. Whether its time spent with our families, time devoted to our spiritual life (prayer, meditation, spiritual reading and study, daily Mass, etc.), or any of the other pursuits that make life worth living. There's an old saying that captures this in a simple way: "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

If you tend to get "work-obsessed," I think the following thoughts from Fr Joseph Schryvers might help. He's addressing what he terms "vain occupation" - a phrase that I think captures what happens to us when our work becomes a consuming obsession. Read it and tell me what you think.

Vain preoccupation has its source in self-love. Its roots are traceable to an immoderate pursuit of success, fear of an anticipated humiliation, attachment to a special occupation, or apprehension regarding the future or the past. The reasonable forethought which the perfect performance of even material work demands and to which are all obliged, does not, of course, come under the head of vain preoccupation; but disquiet, even in this case, should be suppressed. Such cares have their special times, and forethought and reflection concerning them enter into the obligation of one’s state. But if you are so constituted that you easily give way to this preoccupation, be on the alert and strive against admitting it voluntarily. Reflect for a moment on the following thought: preoccupation is a permanent wrong, inflicted on the power, wisdom, and goodness of God, Who wishes to live and reign in your soul; on the other hand, it leads to ridiculous reliance on your own providence and your own industry. You believe yourself more capable of arranging your destiny than God Himself. Your acts seem to proclaim that Jesus Who died for you, and Who feeds you with His Own Body and Blood, has not heart enough to watch over you and to give you your material bread. Every time you allow fear to possess you regarding a future contingency, you lose all memory of the goodness of God in the past, and you become worse than the Jews in the desert; you complain and you murmur. Once and forever, throw yourself into the arms of Jesus; this will give Him pleasure, and He will take great care of you.