Work has such potential of becoming drudgery. Often work is a means to and end. It is a necessary thing for survival. Work provides for food, shelter, and leisure activities. A book I remember reading is entitled Working Ourselves to Death by Dianne Fassel.[1] She speaks of how human resources are being used up at an alarming rate. This rate of consummation is just like that of other natural resources. Folks no longer just do one job, but employees often wear many hats, have several levels of management to whom they are accountable, work very long and hope to accomplish all that is set before them. This kind of busyness in work with little down time leaves one spiritually bankrupt. As we will discover in a moment, the early desert fathers and mothers had a very different perception of work.
The other dynamic of this week’s spiritual discipline is prayer. Have you ever noticed in our current culture, faithful folks often fall into a rhythm of morning and evening devotions? This is an awesome rhythm. It has potential to renew daily our commitment and community with God, self, and others. But is there more? Could prayer become the lens through which we see the world, our work, and live in relationships with others?
The Scripture
Human life, with all of our complexities of relationships is hard! There are disappointments, unmet needs, insecurities of self, and others and hurt feelings. Through it all the faithful one seeks to be live in covenantal relationship with God. The story of Hannah’s heartache and joy has all the dynamics of the complexities of relationships. (I Samuel 1:1-28 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I+Samuel+1%3A1-28&version=NRSV ) Can you image what it may have been like for Hannah watching Peninnah bear and rise children while she possibly jeered at Hannah’s barrenness? What heartbreak. Instead of being overwhelmed with her broken heart or launch sharp insults back at Peninnah, Hannah turns to the work of prayer.
Even deep in prayer Hannah is misjudged. The Priest Eli accused her of being drunk! Yet Hannah stayed the steady course of faithful covenant and poured her soul out in prayer and explained to the Priest the deepest desires of her heart. Then she took it even a step further in soul work and became co-creator of life with God.
Imagining Hannah
I can only image how Hannah must have cherished those few short years of daily living with her child. I wonder how she prayed during those years as she worked as mom for the infant and young child Samuel. Then once he was weaned Hannah’s work began in earnest. The work of detachment. The work of surrendering her greatest love, that is her child to God’s care as she took the young Samuel to the temple to live.
I chose this story of Hannah for ora et labora spiritual practice because often we in the 21st century only consider our outward tasks work; that is preforming jobs, doing things, creating products, preparing meals, doing laundry and the alike. However, work on our interior life is vital for the outward expression of our tasks. The beauty of Hannah’s tapestry of work and prayer, ora et labora, is a stunning illustration of Divine work.
Today’s Prayer practice – Audio Divina
Music is a companion for the soul. It can speak softly, whisper gently, and carry the soul upon the Divine wings of flight. The prayer practice this week is audio divina. The derivative of this word is from the Latin meaning to hear or to listen for the Divine. As you listen for the Divine Word resounding through music, your heart will be set free to soar on Jesus’ resurrection as you contemplate your rhythm of work and prayer. The intention for this prayer experience is to let your soul sink deeply into the music so, like my son, your soul may give expression beyond words to its outpouring of wisdom, emotion, and intuitive sense of the Christ rising with new insights and wisdom within you.
Today you are invited to notice the gift of ora et labora within your life. The wonder is: “How is God inviting you to weave prayer into work and work into prayer?” follow. For today you will pray with music from a YouTube link found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjCzPp-MK48.This time-lapse video movement of flowers bursting into new life and the accompanying music provides fodder for contemplation of ora et labora.
Please view the video twice with picture and once with just music. When you have completed your time of prayer, gifts yourself with the time to journal what you noticed about God’s presence, your rhythm of ora et labora, and any other insights God whispers to your heart.
Enjoy praying.
[1] Dianne Fassel. 2000. Working Ourselves to Death: The High Cost of Workaholism and the Rewards of Recovery. Lincoln, Nebraska.
