Time to Sharpen Our Spiritual Tool Box To Meet The Coming Storm -1
As we explained last time, 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'll launch into what we've dubbed 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've posted on these in the past. They'll
be a strong tonic for us again.
"If we employ them unceasingly...and on the Day of Judgement render account of them, then we shall receive from the Lord in return that reward which he himself has promised: Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, what God hath prepared for those that love him."
Can you see, simply based on our saints introduction, how these "tools" can lend some stability to our typical work day? For one thing, if we keep these in mind in tandem with the attention we apply to our daily tasks, we've actively united the practical side of our work with our spiritual lives. All of these tools will help to build our Interior Life as we successfully complete our work assignments to the best of our ability. That combination provides balance - stability - to our endeavors. With practice, there will be little or no room for the distractions we're trying to keep at bay. Let's start with the first four:
- To deny oneself, in order to follow Christ..
- To chastise the body.
- Not to seek soft living.
- To love fasting.
Here we clear the deck for our ensuing good works. The objective of our efforts would be to suppress, even excise, all our self-centered thoughts, words, and deeds. Many of us need much effort here. (Count me among them!) To the extent our actions are tainted with self-seeking motives, any attempts at good works will be so tainted. While we need to work at this all the time, it's especially important now. The more we focus on "self," the more the door opens to any worries and anxiety that might accompany the explosion of one or more of those ticking time bombs.
If nothing else, these self-denying good works will help us sort out what satisfies us as opposed to what satisfies God. We'll more easily ferret out what are mostly creature comforts, or mere social customs we might have preferred over what we consider morally right. We'll see all this more clearly by chastising the body and not seeking soft living. Taking away creature comforts in favor or the life of our soul will help us concentrate on our work, on doing our best for the greater glory of God. We may even find ourselves spending extra time in prayer, extra spiritual reading, or maybe a few quiet moments alone with God.
As you've likely surmised, none of this will avoid what may be one or a series of explosions before year-end. But, if we can fill our time with diligently performing our duties at work, in tandem with using these Tools of Good Works to enrich our spiritual life, we'll have little time to fret or be distracted. Our days will be less scattered, more calm - and, as a result, more stable.
There's much more to help us build stability in St. Benedict's Tools of Good Works. We'll continue next time...
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