Examples of Good Spiritual Works Giving Solid Pracitical Tips at Work

Over the years, we've frequently quoted good spiritual works. We typically want these to help us "super-naturalize" the everyday tasks we perform in whatever type of work we do. Today, though, we'll flip that and see if we can extract some practical tips from good spiritual works - tips we can use on the job to help us do the best work we can.

Our first passage comes from Fr. Joseph Schryvers. We've seen him a number of times in the past. It's all good stuff. Let's see what we might extract from this passage to help us not only super-naturalize our daily work, but also improve the practical result of our efforts.

First, we assume we already understand that it's critical to see God in everything. That'll be a given. Also, we want to acquire the love of Jesus - the basis and chief objective of our desire to acquire solid spiritual discipline.

“If you want to find God in everything, you must quit self. If you want to acquire the love of Jesus, renounce self-indulgence always. All that you cut off from self-love and self-satisfaction you give to divine love. This is the doctrine of universal renunciation, and perhaps it arouses in you, who are still imperfect, a sentiment of fear. But you need not be afraid; only the beginning is hard; by degrees you will reach the more serene and peaceful ways that lead to holiness."

We can probably easily understand the logic of quitting self as a means to increase love of Jesus. Even if we experience that fear that Father references, our intellect can grasp it's importance. So if fear does try to dissuade, ignore it and stick with the effort.

But if the spiritual reward is a peace and serenity that assists us in becoming more holy, we might also see a practical effect on our efforts on the job. 

Imagine extracting self-indulgence from our daily tasks. By suppressing self, we can more readily and consistently focus strictly on what needs to be done to produce the best possible product. If we're tired, we take a break not to indulge ourselves, but in order to refresh our minds and bodies. What about distractions like daydreams, co-workers interrupting our concentrated work flow, personal and family issues that legitimately concern us, but have no place during the time we're paid to produce quality work - and so on? If distractions attack us, we take a stand and refuse to give in to them. 

You can see how minimizing or even eliminating all forms of self-indulgence will give a boost to both our spiritual life and the specific practical work we do.

Now, it's one thing to state that we will minimize or eliminate self-indulgence. Fair to say most of us would immediately give a "thumbs up" to that intention. Maybe we even start each work day with some sort of resolution that, indeed, we will refuse to be self-indulgent. If so, Bravo!

But once the work day begins, you know how it goes much of the time, especially during particularly busy times at work. (And for some of us that's just about every day.) Our intention, well-meaning as it might be, gets lost in the pressing nature of lots to do and little time to do it. 

So what's needed at such times are specific ways to practice renunciation of self. What exactly should we do or not do that will look self in the eye and send it packing - at least for the duration of the work day? Fortunately, Father Schryvers provides just those specific suggestions. Next time we'll review these one by one. Again, their application to our spiritual lives might seem easier to grasp than how we might apply them to our actual work.

For now, though, a heads up that the meat of the summer work season is rapidly drawing to a close. It was once pretty common that during the week or so before Labor Day, work slowed perceptibly. Not sure if that's so much the case these days, when many of us work remotely on laptops. But if your own work has slowed up a bit, enjoy the respite. We'll soon be back to business as usual. 

Then again, if we pay any mind to this idea of self-renunciation, the respite may not be such a big deal. That poor "self" of ours that's always looking for some relief if not outright indulgence may already have been expelled from our workplace. If so, congrats. If not yet, just keep at it.

Until next time...