Concentration at Work
Good work requires concentration. Distractions abound that keep us from the task at hand. If you're constantly distracted, you can't do your best work.
Distractions come at us from all directions. Others demand our time and attention. ("Do you have a minute? I need to discuss this with you quickly.") Other tasks and projects that lie in the future crowd our thoughts. ("I've got to get this done quickly and get on with that.") Maybe a crisis at home weighs on your mind.
Then there's the issue of working at a computer, which many of us do. A simple mouse click and you can change what you're looking at right now. There are so many reasons people find to jump from one website to another. May I suggest that, for the most part, most of that jumping around is mere distraction?
But if computers present a unique challenge, don't kid yourself that people in the past didn't face the same challenges we do. After all, even without computers luring us to click here and there, our minds have a natural tendency to wander. The discipline of being able to concentrate, to focus at the task at hand is, at least for many of us, one that we have to hone. It takes great effort day in and day out.
I dare say this may have even applied to Our Lord when He lived among us. Jesus' work life began in a carpenter's shop in a small village - His so-called "hidden" life. I suspect he faced the usual distractions of the craftsman of His day. When it came to his efforts at the work bench, we might imagine He had to discipline his mind just as we do. After all, He lived a fully human life except, of course for sin. And as one working in the world, just as we do, He had to exercise the discipline of keeping his mind on his work. It's only natural and logical for us to imagine this.
If He faced struggles similar to our own in His hidden life in Nazareth, what about his public life? As He traveled about Palestine speaking to crowds, working miracles, teaching His disciples, He probably faced even greater distractions. Not only were His surroundings constantly changing, but, if you read the Gospels, you find Him referring from time to time to His coming suffering and death. Imagine having that hanging over your head every day as you go about your work. Wouldn't you be distracted by such thoughts?
The point of all this is, first, to point out that we all share the challenge of keeping our minds on our work each day, no matter the distractions that present themselves to us. But second, we can turn to Our Lord for help when we have trouble concentrating on our work. We can turn to Him as one Who knows exactly what we're going through as we struggle to keep our minds on our work. We can seek His guidance and His consolation in the midst of this and any other struggles we face at work. Not only does He know what we're experiencing because He's God, and therefore all-knowing. But He also knows first hand what we're going through because He likely faced the same challenges Himself as He worked His way through His life on earth.
What a great comfort to know that He knows just what you're going through each day. How wonderful that we can talk to Him not only as God, our Savior, but as one Who bore the same burdens and faced the same challenges as we do each day!
Distractions come at us from all directions. Others demand our time and attention. ("Do you have a minute? I need to discuss this with you quickly.") Other tasks and projects that lie in the future crowd our thoughts. ("I've got to get this done quickly and get on with that.") Maybe a crisis at home weighs on your mind.
Then there's the issue of working at a computer, which many of us do. A simple mouse click and you can change what you're looking at right now. There are so many reasons people find to jump from one website to another. May I suggest that, for the most part, most of that jumping around is mere distraction?
But if computers present a unique challenge, don't kid yourself that people in the past didn't face the same challenges we do. After all, even without computers luring us to click here and there, our minds have a natural tendency to wander. The discipline of being able to concentrate, to focus at the task at hand is, at least for many of us, one that we have to hone. It takes great effort day in and day out.
I dare say this may have even applied to Our Lord when He lived among us. Jesus' work life began in a carpenter's shop in a small village - His so-called "hidden" life. I suspect he faced the usual distractions of the craftsman of His day. When it came to his efforts at the work bench, we might imagine He had to discipline his mind just as we do. After all, He lived a fully human life except, of course for sin. And as one working in the world, just as we do, He had to exercise the discipline of keeping his mind on his work. It's only natural and logical for us to imagine this.
If He faced struggles similar to our own in His hidden life in Nazareth, what about his public life? As He traveled about Palestine speaking to crowds, working miracles, teaching His disciples, He probably faced even greater distractions. Not only were His surroundings constantly changing, but, if you read the Gospels, you find Him referring from time to time to His coming suffering and death. Imagine having that hanging over your head every day as you go about your work. Wouldn't you be distracted by such thoughts?
The point of all this is, first, to point out that we all share the challenge of keeping our minds on our work each day, no matter the distractions that present themselves to us. But second, we can turn to Our Lord for help when we have trouble concentrating on our work. We can turn to Him as one Who knows exactly what we're going through as we struggle to keep our minds on our work. We can seek His guidance and His consolation in the midst of this and any other struggles we face at work. Not only does He know what we're experiencing because He's God, and therefore all-knowing. But He also knows first hand what we're going through because He likely faced the same challenges Himself as He worked His way through His life on earth.
What a great comfort to know that He knows just what you're going through each day. How wonderful that we can talk to Him not only as God, our Savior, but as one Who bore the same burdens and faced the same challenges as we do each day!
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