More from Francis on Work

I have been gone for a very long time from this endeavor.  That absence begins with technical problems.  Basically, the blog stopped working right after the 1st of the year and I just got it fixed over the Easter weekend.

It continues with time issues.  Work has been hectic.  Place upon that the responsibilities of a father and husband, especially a father and husband who coaches his kid’s athletic teams, and losing focus can move from distraction to habit in a day or two.

But in all the time I’ve been gone, the question of how to view work has not left me.  It has been consistent enough that a short time ago, while looking for motivation, I went back to the works of Francis in search of further wisdom.

I found it in the Franciscan Rule of 1223, Chapter 5:

“Those brothers whom the Lord favors with the gift of working should do so faithfully and devotedly, so that idleness, the enemy of the soul, is excluded yet the spirit of holy prayer and devotion, which all other temporal things should serve, is not extinguished.”

In the post Structure in Prayer, step 6 reads “find the couple words that speak to me today.”  The general context of this post is praying with scripture.  But really, any set of words that speak to you at any given point in time will work.

I find two phrases (slightly rearranged) in the quote from Francis on work that I offer here as being worthy of the status of “prayer focus.”  Try one of these in your next session of prayerful meditation if you are currently seeking material.

“Idleness is the enemy of the soul.”

“All temporal things should serve a spirit of holy prayer and devotion.”

I’m hoping they will help me come to grips with the issues I am currently having related to work.