Sharpening Our Spiritual Tool Box To Meet The Coming Storm - 6

As we've already explained, we're expecting a storm. And it may very well hit us before this year is over. Even if the powers that be manage to steer it away for a spell, what we outlined last time 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 into 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."

Recall that, in his Rule, St. Benedict provides us with "tools" that can help us foster stability in the workplace. Today we look at some of these tools. Let's see how we can apply these in the workplace. We'll see how St. Benedict's remarks can help us produce our best work in an atmosphere of stability, despite any problems and distractions we face, especially those coming at us these days. 

Between the anticipation of possible stormy days and all the typical daily distractions that affect our concentration at work, I personally find it all distracting. It lingers in my brain even as I get down to my day's work. Left unattended, it can rattle the calm and rational performance of my daily tasks. It can easily have the same effect a bad cold or other ailment might have on my work. Rather than peace and stability, I could wind up struggling to steady myself in the face of all that comes at me throughout the work day. Anything that could buck up stability would be most welcome. St. Benedict's Special Tools could do the trick. 

We pick up today where we left off last time with "The Tools of Good Works."

• To keep one's mouth from evil and depraved talk.
• Not to love much speaking.
• Not to speak vain words or such as move to laughter.

Custody of the tongue: That's what we're looking at here. And isn't it an appropriate antidote to the uncontrolled jaw-flapping of mindless, fear-mongering verbiage that's being spewed at us? 

We can't control what others spit at us; but we can control what we spew out. Not only will our self-control counter the destabilizing forces of the Gauleiters and storm-troopers spawned by this C-Virus Mess, but the practice of custody of the tongue will  bolster a stable workplace. Even before the current pandemic onslaught, I found that keeping the tongue in check fostered calm and peace. The more talk, the less "space" for thinking. The less space for thoughtful activity, the less efficient and productive the time spent working. It's really not that complicated, is it?

Custody of the tongue is one way to develop self-discipline. It can serve as a source of mortification, a practice we've discussed many times in the past. Mortification of the senses has always been a fundamental building block of a solidly built Interior Life - that life of the soul that propels us ever closer to God. It's a gift to be able to pursue mortification in the midst of our busy work day.

Today's Special Tools will thus serve us in several ways: as one means of mortification, a practice we should pursue on any given work day; as a means to build self-discipline, the basic "core exercise" of a healthy spiritual life; and yet another way to reinforce stability in the face of the distractions flying at us, particularly that storm, if it doesn't hit us before the year runs its course, will simply build up strength for the day of its ultimate arrival.