Why Work is Divine – Part 2

If work is said to be divine, it must be giving us

something that fulfills the definition of what

something that is divine is.

Divine has been defined as being some thing that is

wonderful, beautiful, holy and close to or related to

God and a spiritual power and presence.

Most of us seldom if ever look at our job and the

tasks associated with it or our daily work, chores and

errands at home in such a way.

In fact, we may be more likely to curse everything and

everyone that is associated with work at any place or

in any form.

Of course, if we have ever lived for a long period of

time in an area where there was no work available or

been unemployed for a long period of time, we may soon

find that the novelty of not working quickly wears

off.

Among some countries and cultures, when one does not

have any work, it is common to see people sink into

depression or find that their self – worth and self –

image change to something that is negative or even

self – destructive.

Among the chronically unemployed we often find

individuals suffering from drug and drink problems and

there is more likelihood of community, domestic and

family violence.

In seeing what kinds of negative things can occur in

our life, consciousness, and behavior if we do not

work, we can quickly see what is divine when we do

work.

That is, that we have a focus for our time and energy

each day.

This focus gives us a routine that is healthy and

wholesome and allows us to interact with other people

in an activity that is basic to our society and

mankind as a whole.

If we do not have such a focus, duty and

responsibility, we may be easily led astray through

lack of direction, idleness and the temptations of the

flesh and desires in the mind.

In working, we focus and use our energy in such a way

that at the end of the day, we can feel satisfied and

proud about our effort at work, whatever the work was

and consisted of. In addition, upon returning home,

those things that we do with our leisure time will be

done with greater appreciation and satisfaction.

We will find that if we stay at home and watch

television for five or six hours a day, such as we may

have when we had no work available, we were inert and

sluggish, and did not fully enjoy it, while when we

watch it for one or two hours at night, after a day’s

work, we find the experience to be something that is

more enlightening and enjoyable then debilitating and

boring.

Experiencing something divine in life, in others and

within ourselves comes from focusing our time and

energy in a wholesome and constructive manner, both

alone and with others.

Work provides us with an opportunity and activity to

experience this.

©2004 John C. Kimbrough

(John lives and teaches in Bangkok, Thailand. He can

be reached at johnckimbrough@yahoo.com)