Sharpening Our Spiritual Tool Box To Meet The Coming Storm - 4

By now you know we're expecting some sort of storm to hit before this year is over. Even if the powers that be manage to steer it away for a spell, what we outlined recently is a ticking time bomb that won't stop ticking. Considering the impact it will have on both our personal and work lives, we've launched a mini stability project. As opposed to a comprehensive review of the Rule of Saint Benedict as our reference point, we'll focus on a small section our beloved wise saint refers to as "The Tools of Good Works." 

We continue now with: 

• To fear the Day of Judgement.
• To dread hell.
• To desire eternal life with all spiritual longing.
• To keep death daily before one's eyes.

At first blush, death may not seem to be a source of stability. But think about it this way: What could be a greater source?

First, it's one of the few things in this life that's certain. And "certainty" does have the ring of "stability" about it, doesn't it? And, of course, as Catholics we're urged to meditate on death as one of the "Four Last Things," along with Judgment, Heaven, and Hell, right? The other three Tools complete the Four Last Things. Indeed, in a world that constantly changes these four stand apart as sure as sure can be. Not that we constantly meditate on these. But the habit of regularly doing so should be a stable part of our lives. How fortuitous that St. Benedict has included in his list of Tools of Good Works.

So meditating on the Four Last Things establishes one stable point in our lives. We can even take some time during our work day to do so. If you've never taken a few moments during a busy work day to think of any or all of these, try it. I'm not saying I do this all the time. But when I have I'm lifted out of the typical rush of a busy work day.

On a personal note, while I had already devoted some time to meditating on the Four Last Things, the death of one of our children was a catalyst for taking time here and there at work. It came naturally as our grief took center stage in our thoughts each day. But since that terrible day now almost three years ago, it's something I return to regularly, even during my busiest days at work.

Given how this time in meditation - even if it's only a few minutes - does lift you out of the typical rush of a given day on the job, it should be easy to see how it can help us deal with the distraction and disturbance that a world descended into madness brings to us these days. Can you see how a few minutes spent thinking about these certainties can change your spiritual temperament, at least for those few minutes? 

It's kind of like taking a break from typical indoor office work and going for a brief brisk walk in the fresh air. You clear the mind, quell the emotions and come back fresh, able to better concentrate on your work. That's how these Tools of Good Works can extract us - if only for a few minutes - out of our busy workplace. We'll need these to face the approaching storm. But they will serve us well all the time, as we go about our business.

If we can combine these Tools with a daily effort to keep at a distance from the main stream media, all the better. Oh, and let's add in a more directed and discreet approach to our time online. We'll not only lighten our daily load, but may even find our minds and bodies liberated from the often debilitating effects of grinding work and oppressive "news."  I even find this a good practice when it comes to keeping up with industry "news," even to some extent my professional reading. So much is really non-essential, boring, ultimately distracting. I'd rather use the time rescued to carve out a few minutes for my spiritual life. These Tools are one object of prayer and meditation that will do the trick.

So let's steady ourselves and place these Four Tools in our individual spiritual tool chest. Keep them within easy reach, especially when you feel things are getting wobbly, even spinning out of control. We won't let fear or anxiety to enter our daily thoughts, words, and actions, even if the approaching storm hits us hard. If we feel our calm, steadiness and concentration dissipating, just shift over to that tool chest and spend a few minutes with something that will usher all that out the door. Doing so will restore sanity and stability to our workplace.