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07/03/2016
A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day Shirley Jenner, Lecturer at the University of Manchester.
Last on
Mon 7 Mar 2016
05:43
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
Happy Monday?
Good Morning.
For many of us this is the dawning of a new working week. Some people will have a spring in their step as they begin to engage with all that lies ahead. Β Others will have a dull ache at the thought of the treadmill that beckons. How we relate to our work is important, given that an average employee spends 90,000 hours at work over the course of a life-time. And why be average? The British population work some of the longest hours in Europe!Β
A story is told of a man who, whilst on a long walk, came across a stone quarry in which a number of men were working. Intrigued, he asked them each in turn what they were doing. The first replied, βCanβt you see? Β I am hewing stone. The second answered, βIβm trying to earn enough to cover the bills Iβve got to payβ But the third man stopped, put down his pick and said with obvious pride, β I am building a Cathedralβ.
The alienation and drudgery of hard labour experienced by the first quarryman is a reality for many people in the UK and beyond. Β And just like the second man, thousands struggle to make ends meet. Β It is easy to become jaded and weary under heavy workloads or long commutes, packed trains, trams and traffic jams.
But good work, when itβs coupled with a positive perspective, enables us to find joy. We can sense we are contributing to a bigger picture, an enduring purpose. Good Work, in Christian perspective provides fulfilment for the worker and good to our communities. Such work points us to loving, creative God in whose image we are made.Β
Lord God, Refresh those who are weary, and grant us joy in our work this week.Β Amen. Β
For many of us this is the dawning of a new working week. Some people will have a spring in their step as they begin to engage with all that lies ahead. Β Others will have a dull ache at the thought of the treadmill that beckons. How we relate to our work is important, given that an average employee spends 90,000 hours at work over the course of a life-time. And why be average? The British population work some of the longest hours in Europe!Β
A story is told of a man who, whilst on a long walk, came across a stone quarry in which a number of men were working. Intrigued, he asked them each in turn what they were doing. The first replied, βCanβt you see? Β I am hewing stone. The second answered, βIβm trying to earn enough to cover the bills Iβve got to payβ But the third man stopped, put down his pick and said with obvious pride, β I am building a Cathedralβ.
The alienation and drudgery of hard labour experienced by the first quarryman is a reality for many people in the UK and beyond. Β And just like the second man, thousands struggle to make ends meet. Β It is easy to become jaded and weary under heavy workloads or long commutes, packed trains, trams and traffic jams.
But good work, when itβs coupled with a positive perspective, enables us to find joy. We can sense we are contributing to a bigger picture, an enduring purpose. Good Work, in Christian perspective provides fulfilment for the worker and good to our communities. Such work points us to loving, creative God in whose image we are made.Β
Lord God, Refresh those who are weary, and grant us joy in our work this week.Β Amen. Β
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- Mon 7 Mar 2016 05:43ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
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