Comments on: The need for work http://www.radicalcongruency.com/20031125-the-need-for-work Spirituality // Technology // Emerging Ecclesiology Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:29:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Karl Thienes http://www.radicalcongruency.com/20031125-the-need-for-work#comment-388 Karl Thienes Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000 //?p=#comment-388 I'm a lot like you in this regard....I think it is both a blessing and an opportunity. Pascal said, tounge in cheek, that all the evils of the world could be attributed to the fact that most men can't sit alone in a room for 30 minutes without going crazy. Makes me think when I want to check my email for the 1,223 time in a 24 hour period! We need to make sure that our need to be "productive" is being sanctified by always asking ourselves what we mean by the word and what holy fathers teach us about work, prayer, and study and how to balance them (not just in terms of time but in attitude) I’m a lot like you in this regard….I think it is both a blessing and an opportunity. Pascal said, tounge in cheek, that all the evils of the world could be attributed to the fact that most men can’t sit alone in a room for 30 minutes without going crazy. Makes me think when I want to check my email for the 1,223 time in a 24 hour period!

We need to make sure that our need to be “productive” is being sanctified by always asking ourselves what we mean by the word and what holy fathers teach us about work, prayer, and study and how to balance them (not just in terms of time but in attitude)

]]> By: Andrew Hamilton http://www.radicalcongruency.com/20031125-the-need-for-work#comment-389 Andrew Hamilton Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000 //?p=#comment-389 Some of us need to do things to feel like the day has been worthwhile. I am one of them too. Right now I need to sit in a quiet time - because if I start too much I won't be able to maintain itnext year when I begin teaching again. Its hard! Who would have thought taking it easy could be this difficult! Some of us need to do things to feel like the day has been worthwhile. I am one of them too. Right now I need to sit in a quiet time - because if I start too much I won’t be able to maintain itnext year when I begin teaching again. Its hard! Who would have thought taking it easy could be this difficult!

]]> By: Daniel (aka NeoTheologue) http://www.radicalcongruency.com/20031125-the-need-for-work#comment-390 Daniel (aka NeoTheologue) Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000 //?p=#comment-390 I have the same "need to feel productive" that you described, Justin. In speaking informally about it to our church, I get the impression that more men "have it" than women (makes it sound like a disease, doesn't it?) With that in mind, it's funny that the Bible story that best addresses it involves two women, Mary and Martha. Discussing the story with some other couples a week or so ago, I came to a conclusion that was (for me, at least) surprising. Jesus never told Martha to do what Mary was doing (i.e. sit contemplatively at his feet). He implied that she had made a "better choice," but I don't think the choice was about <i>what</i> she was doing, but <i>why</i> she was doing it. Mary's focus was on Christ; Martha's was on herself. I'm convinced that Martha could have gone back to the kitchen and been totally righteous in doing it...if she had been doing it out of love for Christ. Sadly, I'm mostly like Martha. I need to be busy for my own reasons, not to glorify God. I don't need to be busy because "the fields are white for harvest" or because "the days are evil," but because I sleep better at night if I've checked lots of things off of my "to do" list. Ugh! I have the same “need to feel productive” that you described, Justin. In speaking informally about it to our church, I get the impression that more men “have it” than women (makes it sound like a disease, doesn’t it?)

With that in mind, it’s funny that the Bible story that best addresses it involves two women, Mary and Martha. Discussing the story with some other couples a week or so ago, I came to a conclusion that was (for me, at least) surprising. Jesus never told Martha to do what Mary was doing (i.e. sit contemplatively at his feet). He implied that she had made a “better choice,” but I don’t think the choice was about what she was doing, but why she was doing it. Mary’s focus was on Christ; Martha’s was on herself. I’m convinced that Martha could have gone back to the kitchen and been totally righteous in doing it…if she had been doing it out of love for Christ.

Sadly, I’m mostly like Martha. I need to be busy for my own reasons, not to glorify God. I don’t need to be busy because “the fields are white for harvest” or because “the days are evil,” but because I sleep better at night if I’ve checked lots of things off of my “to do” list. Ugh!

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