Dealing with Stress and Preoccupation at Work - 2
Last time we talked about stress and preoccupation, focusing on the example of the stress providing for our families can cause. But preoccupation involves many other areas and we'll cover those today. Again, we turn to Fr. Schryvers and a passage of his I came across in my daily spiritual reading.
Notice how Father here specifies "vain preoccupation" as the main issue, and note well its source. (Emphasis mine.)
“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.” (Fr. Joseph Schryvers, C.SS.R.)
Self-love, as we've noted in the past, has really taken root in our current age. Since the dawn of man, it's been a temptation and frequently a problem for so many of us. But these days some push it as a virtue. How many times have we all been deluged with the urgent call to "Love yourself"?
Now, I'm not minimizing problems some of have us with lack of self-confidence or "self-esteem," if your prefer. There's no virtue in hating yourself, or in denigrating yourself irrationally. Out of control self-abnegation can lead to mental and emotional dysfunction. But assuming we're not suffering a mental or emotional disability, loving ourselves may be the last thing most of us should worry about.
Here we learn that self-love leads to "immoderate pursuit of success, fear of an anticipated humiliation, attachment to a special occupation, or apprehension regarding the future or the past." Such preoccupations will easily pull us away from God. Not only will our time and attention be unduly spent, but we'll likely forget that it's God's Will that should preoccupy us, first and foremost.
Father Schryvers further points out that these vain preoccupations can lead to a "ridiculous reliance" (great phrase!) on our own providence and our own industry. Of course, this sort of flies in the face of the whole American creed of "self-reliance" fostered by our own industrious pursuit of profits. But that's not the message here. We're simply being reminded to do God's Will first, to acknowledge His Providence and rely on His grace. Otherwise, from the perspective of our spiritual life, our own efforts will be in vain.
Besides, what could be better than to throw yourself into the arms of Jesus," with the sure knowledge that "this will give Him pleasure, and He will take great care of you”?
Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. It's certainly better than being caught up in stress and preoccupation at work.
Notice how Father here specifies "vain preoccupation" as the main issue, and note well its source. (Emphasis mine.)
“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.” (Fr. Joseph Schryvers, C.SS.R.)
Self-love, as we've noted in the past, has really taken root in our current age. Since the dawn of man, it's been a temptation and frequently a problem for so many of us. But these days some push it as a virtue. How many times have we all been deluged with the urgent call to "Love yourself"?
Now, I'm not minimizing problems some of have us with lack of self-confidence or "self-esteem," if your prefer. There's no virtue in hating yourself, or in denigrating yourself irrationally. Out of control self-abnegation can lead to mental and emotional dysfunction. But assuming we're not suffering a mental or emotional disability, loving ourselves may be the last thing most of us should worry about.
Here we learn that self-love leads to "immoderate pursuit of success, fear of an anticipated humiliation, attachment to a special occupation, or apprehension regarding the future or the past." Such preoccupations will easily pull us away from God. Not only will our time and attention be unduly spent, but we'll likely forget that it's God's Will that should preoccupy us, first and foremost.
Father Schryvers further points out that these vain preoccupations can lead to a "ridiculous reliance" (great phrase!) on our own providence and our own industry. Of course, this sort of flies in the face of the whole American creed of "self-reliance" fostered by our own industrious pursuit of profits. But that's not the message here. We're simply being reminded to do God's Will first, to acknowledge His Providence and rely on His grace. Otherwise, from the perspective of our spiritual life, our own efforts will be in vain.
Besides, what could be better than to throw yourself into the arms of Jesus," with the sure knowledge that "this will give Him pleasure, and He will take great care of you”?
Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. It's certainly better than being caught up in stress and preoccupation at work.
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