A Simple Psalm To Begin Our Work Day

Today we read a simple Psalm to launch us into our work day. Question: Will today be a simple day or a complex day at work?

Work day's can range from the simple to the quite complex. On this end, complexity is often the rule. A typical complex work day:

Rise early, generally before the sun. A bit of 1st thing light exercise to limber up body and mind. Then the Morning spiritual exercise to limber up the soul, typically: prayer, meditation, reading (Scripture, spiritual works), study (a bit of review of our Catholic Religion), perhaps a few other miscellaneous items; then more serious exercise.

In the past, commute to the job. Now - working from home - typically get down to initial stabs at some work. At some point, there's the usual process to gussy up Brother Ass to look presentable to the outside world. (Even when working from home, no reason to look like a slob!)

Domestic duties may horn in on this before the more steady stream of work tasks take over. In that past commuting life to an outside location, any domestic stuff had to wait until end of day/weekends. Now it sprinkles in - within reason. But work remains the priority.

With best efforts throughout the work day, recollect being in the Presence of God. Always there are certain points in time for prayer - which requires a break from the sometimes blur of tasks that fill up the hours. (Developed that habit from reading the Rule of St. Benedict. While not a monk, it's still not impossible to take a few minutes for prayer throughout the day.)

Webinars related to professional matters frequently slice into the flow of task-related efforts. Calls, both scheduled and unscheduled depending on the day can take up as much as a third of the work time. And when a special project pops up it's all that one can do to stay on top of the flow while meeting a project deadline.

Typically, in the blink of any eye, a glance at the clock yields something like, "Is it that late?". Then it's an immediate switch (these days working from home) to regular domestic duties that fulfill my share of the efforts mostly borne by my wife.

The more various elements piled into the schedule, the more complex the day. The fewer (no webinars, no calls), the simpler the day. But even on simple days the work never ceases flowing. It may not be so urgent and there may be more "flex time" but the "To Do's" just seem to gush from - well, it's not always clear the source of this river of tasks; but wherever their origin, they never cease.

Which all means that simple or complex, work flows steadily. And with that steady flow, it's good to temper things best you can so that you're not worked up into a tizzy, resulting in an "excessive exhaustion." Exhaustion as a result of the diligent performance of duties is OK. But exhaustion from not being able to manage affairs in a calm, temperate manner call for some sort of reform. (The latter has been a challenge throughout this worm's working life.)

So with this work day now ready for engagement, whether simple of complex, Psalm 99 can serve as a relatively simple launchpad to get the wheels turning. (Psalms can be short and simple, long and complex, and everything in between. This one's short and simple.)

2 Sing joyfully to God, all the earth: serve ye the Lord with gladness. Come in before his presence with exceeding great joy. 3- Know ye that the Lord he is God: he made us, and not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture [Psalms 99:3] 4 Go ye into his gates with praise, into his courts with hymns: and give glory to him. Praise ye his name: 5 For the Lord is sweet, his mercy endureth for ever, and his truth to generation and generation.