Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. (Colossians 3:23 NKJV)
When Nicholas Herman entered the Carmelite monastery in Paris in 1666, he expected to live a life of penance because of his wild and sinful past. But instead Herman, who was given the name Brother Lawrence, found God's forgiveness and peace, plus a joy he could never have imagined. But his faith was sorely tried in the process. Clumsy by nature, he was very upset at being assigned to the monastery kitchen. Then something happened. There in his kitchen he found that even the humblest, most mundane tasks become significant - when they're done out of love for God! In his classic little book, The Practice of the Presence of God, he wrote: "The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer...in the noise and clatter of my kitchen while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees...We ought not to be weary of doing little things, for God regards not the greatn ess of the work but the love with which it is performed." Talk about adding dignity to your job!
So, what's the job you hate most? Cutting the grass? Doing laundry? Putting out the garbage? Walking the dog? Coming home from work tired and having to cook dinner? Care-giving? Paul said, "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men" (Col 3:23 NKJV). The truth is, there's no difference between the secular and the sacred when it's done "as to the Lord and not to men."
Bible Readings: 1 Sam 4-7, Mark 16:1-8, Ps 68:19-35, Pr 22:6
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