The Octave of Easter at Work - 2

(re-post from 2023)

 

We're at the fifth day of the Easter Octave. As we noted before, it's still Easter, in all its fullness, throughout the Octave. And we're here at work doing our best to celebrate this grace-filled Octave best we can, in the midst of our busy work day.

But just as we may struggle on any typical work day to keep God present to us in some way right here in the midst of the work-flow, the same pertains to the Easter Octave. Any grandiose intentions of keeping the glory of Easter present and alive may very well be worn away by the pressing nature of the task at hand.

And it doesn't have to be some deadline, or major project, or crisis that distracts us from our Risen Savior. Indeed, more typically, it's the little things. 

Work brings lots of little things that demand our attention. 

Perhaps it could be following up on emails to connect with this or that client. Or perhaps a report needs to be assembled and sent out to everyone summarizing last quarter's results with some anticipation of what lies ahead. Sounds important, but mostly it's tedious work from the writing to the assembling to the sending. 

Then there are those slew of articles, culled carefully, stacked (physically and digitally) awaiting reading and review. Past experience tells me I'll learn a thing or two, but I may also find nothing of value in one or two of them, always a frustrating experience.

Lately, there's been an extra layer of study. As is not uncommon with the machinations of politicians laws and regulations change. On my plate now sit proposals regarding income and estate tax changes, the second such slew of a confusing stew in the last two years. I need to get up to snuff with what may soon become law, then figure out how any of this might effect this or that client. 

As I slog through the details best I can, it's important to set aside the roiling emotions that inevitably come with this sort of study: Here we go again. What are the unintended consequences, always hiding between the lines, that will likely impact exactly the wrong people - those who have simply tried to prudently plan for their family's future, who can't afford to have their efforts undermined by government officials? Never mind that many of the politicians behind this travesty are at best overzealous, at worst clueless or thoroughly corrupt. What's it all for?

But even as little things may add up and make us rant a bit, it's best to remember: relentless chains of tedious detail really serve God's greater glory. But we need to think of these as fertile soil into which we plant our spiritual seeds each day. How do we do that? We embrace each little thing and handle it with loving care. We consider our attention to detail, our completion of the task in a timely manner, (especially when a particular task might be especially boring or even distasteful for whatever reason) as an act of love for God. We do it out of love - FOR GOD.

The study I need to commit to in my work, and the daily spiritual reading I do each day thus serve as expressions of love. Not all my work study, and certainly not much of my spiritual reading, is ever boring or distasteful. But there are days that can change a mole hill into a mountain. Other days when study or reading that you typically look forward to becomes a real chore, something that can seem almost impossible to plow through. Think: when you're tired, sick, injured, etc. 

Easter - the full Easter Season - drives home the incredible fact that the Son of God - Who is God Himself - not only condescended to live amongst us, but suffered horribly unto death for us. He did this to both open the Gates of Heaven to fallen man, as well as give us an example of how we might hope to gain eternal happiness. And, yes, that example is His suffering and death - His Cross.

Easter does not obliterate the Cross. It serves as a lily-white garland on that Cross that helps us to gaze lovingly on what otherwise can be difficult, painful, seemingly impossible to do out of love for God. (Some churches display such a wooden Cross with white garland at Easter.)

Some day, all our work, all our spiritual acts, all difficulties, including pain and suffering, will end. On that day, we will see Our Risen Lord and Savior in all his Risen Glory. Easter gives us the hope that our encounter will be a happy one. If all we do each and every day can be an expression of love for God, that hope will not be in vain.

Happy Easter!