Working for the Lord
by Elouise
I gave this slightly tongue-in-cheek yet totally earnest devotional at a faculty meeting in April 2000. It’s about the way I want to work. I wrote it because I was struggling with boundaries. Too much work, too little time, too many unresolved issues on my desk, all on top of my desire to please everybody even though it meant ignoring reality. Only 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week.
The devotional offered a way to tell the truth about my work, my identity and my ultimate loyalty. It was also an opportunity to exercise a bit of faith.
Working for the Lord
I’m working for the Lord,
Not for the seminary Dean—
His work is never done.
Not for the seminary President—
His work is never done.
Not for my faculty colleagues—
My work with them is never done.
Not for my students—
My work with them is never done.
Not for myself—
God knows this woman’s work is never done.
I’m working for the Lord
Whose work will be done and has been done;
Whose work has been finished and rested from–more than once.
God finished the work of creation
and rested on the Sabbath;
Jesus finished the work God sent him to do,
and was laid to rest in a tomb.
I’m one of many participating in God’s work;
Followers, not CEOs.
It’s not up to me to get the work done;
It’s up to God–
working in, through and often apart from me–
and all the rest of us.
I’m working for the Lord.
This doesn’t mean doing my duty, working harder, working faster, or working smarter.
It means trusting that what I do here day by day
will somehow participate in God’s work.
It means making plans, taking small steps, making choices and following through
even though I don’t know the outcome,
or how my work might participate in God’s work.
I stop working for the Lord
when I become anxious about outcomes,
try to manipulate things to my advantage,
use words to mask my true intentions,
or obsess about yesterday or about tomorrow–
neither of which are mine to live in.
Thanks be to God–
Sometimes God saves me from myself!
Other times God lets me fall into the consequences of my need to control,
my need to relieve my anxiety about how things will work out,
and whether the outcome will benefit me.
I become like the wicked who fall into the pit
they dug for someone else.
* * *
Psalm 131: A Prayer of Humble Trust
Lord, I have given up my pride
And turned away from my arrogance.
I am not concerned with great matters
Or with subjects too difficult for me.
Instead, I am content and at peace.
As a child lies quietly in its mother’s arms,
So my heart is quiet within me.
Israel, trust in the Lord now and forever!
* * * * *
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 18 November 2014
Psalm 131, Today’s English Version
I have questions, that I don’t need answers too, but strike me as important. How did your colleagues hear this and respond? I hope grace is one word that could be used. Was I a student who created extra work, weighing down your already heavy load? Forgive me. How could students not add to the work of their professors? Could the Seminary Community be more supportive of all in ways that eased some of the work? I think what I am asking is how could we all be more like Christ.
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Great questions, David. My colleagues laughed–recognizing me and recognizing themselves in what I said! This was the best possible outcome. Even my Dean laughed and acknowledged he recognized his own struggles in this piece. I can’t remember whether our president was there or not.
As for my students, I loved working with them. My issue was the way I did my work with them. I had to change my ways. Stop making every comment on every paper a work of literary art. Stop spending time trying to respond to everything–just hit the high points that are to be commended and a few that would make this paper even better. Stop writing so much on student papers–I learned to use bullet points! Not when you were there, but later. So…bottom line, my way of doing my work was weighing me down! Not my students.
I also had to take a hard look at my personal calendar and begin making time for primary commitments. Including me! Never easy. Always a struggle–though not nearly as difficult today as it was back then. Thanks for your thoughtful response.
Elouise
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Thank you. This is so timely for me, not only as I enter the “crazy” season, but as I also endure unfounded questions about the work I’m doing! Ack.
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You’re welcome! I’m so happy it connected with you just now, even though it isn’t fun.
Elouise
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