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“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” – Jesus (Matthew 11:28)

It’s 4 p.m. on a Wednesday. The bell has rung, the students have left, and you finally let out a sigh of relief. But just as you start to relax, your mind races through the tasks still waiting: corrections to finish, a lesson plan to prepare, and where exactly are those discussion questions for the Junior Cert RE class again? Don’t forget to print the past exam papers for the Leaving Cert students too!

Does this sound a little familiar? If so, can I suggest that there  might be something helpful in it for you: could it be an opportunity to learn how to allow God into the chaos of your schedule, showing you how to create a healthy balance between faith and work?

More Than a Feeling (and a Thing!)

When it comes to faith, we can speak of it like it’s a detached ‘thing’. And I suppose faith, in the general sense of the word, is a ‘thing’ – something that we place our hope and trust in. However, faith in Jesus is fundamentally different. It transcends far beyond putting our hope and trust in any one ‘thing’ and instead invites us into a vivifying relationship with the living God.

This, of course, is foundational knowledge to living healthy lives, as St Augustine says, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You”.

From the Moment I Wake Up…

But how do we live out that reality in the workplace?

It begins long before work,  as part of the morning routine, setting aside even 10 minutes to acknowledge God, to thank Him, to ask for His help in the doubts or fears you face, to welcome Him into all the moments that will unfold as surely as the day does. As much as we need that strong cuppa in the morning, how much more do we need God to fill our cups? And the good news? Any time we ask Him to fill us up, He does this and more, “my cup overflows”! (“Psalm 23:5).

There is a modern Spanish Saint called Josemaría Escrivá, who has become known as the “Saint of Ordinary Life”. He saw all these normal events in our daily lives as paths that bring us closer to God:

“We have to be contemplative souls in the middle of the world who strive to turn our work into prayer,” “Your work must become a personal prayer, must become a real conversation with Our Father in heaven.”

Better Together

This doesn’t need to be getting the staff room to say grace together before meals primary-school-style. For you, personally, however, it is to go through the work day being aware of His presence, to know that He is with you in all of it. You know those funny videos that poke fun at colleagues who make everything a two-man job? I think of it a bit like that, bringing God into even the littlest moments of the work day and reminding ourselves that He is there with us.

Being met with blank expressions and silence after a lesson?

“Jesus, I know you are in the midst of this”.

Feeling despair at the mere thought of the paperwork to get through at the end of the day?

“Jesus, I need your peace”.

The photocopier worked on the first try?

“Thank you, Jesus, You really are a Wonder Worker!”

3 Practical Tips to Help:

• Lay a good foundation: Our body is a place where God Himself dwells, so we want to fuel it well. I know you’ve heard about getting enough sleep, keeping hydrated, eating food that nourishes your body – so I won’t harp on. But it is something essential for our faith and work alike because your body is Sacred and when we take care of it, we are caring for God at home within us as we live, work, rest, or do anything, really!

• Set a Time: As well as being aware of God’s presence in a general sense, I have found it anchoring to have more concrete ways of placing myself before God in the work day too. For me, it’s often reading a Psalm or Gospel passage at the start of lunch. For you, it could be a moment in the school oratory or a Scripture line between classes. It might vary week to week too. Whatever it may be, I find that setting aside a dedicated time for God in the hurried day can serve to reorient us back to Him and restore a more peaceful posture in us too.

• Have a bitta craic: Joy matters. Sure Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding feast! That definitely reveals a God who enjoys a bit of craic. Part of living life with God is inviting Him into the fun stuff too, so make sure you make time for leisure. Whether that’s savouring a coffee and chat with a colleague, or simply making space in class to hear some of your students’ highlights of lunch,delight in these pleasant and holy moments too!
  “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” – Jesus (John 10:10)

“I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you” – Samwise Gamgee

All of this sounds ideal – but work is hard. Stress, fatigue, and discouragement hit those who love their jobs and those who don’t. Scripture doesn’t deny this; it invites us to bring it to God: “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Work is a gift – it can be deeply good – but we were never meant to live it out separately from our faith, carrying its responsibilities and pressures alone. Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you… and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29–30). That doesn’t mean the work itself becomes easy, but that we are no longer carrying the full weight. He bears it with us.

Maybe “balance” isn’t quite the right word for how faith and work relate. God’s ways are not ours (Isaiah 55:8).  Just look at Jesus on the cross, shouldering our weight. His concern is our union with Him, not what we have placed upon Him. Like the beloved “Footprints in the Sand” poem, we are reminded that when the load feels heaviest, He will be the one carrying us.

So, to sum it up… Faith doesn’t remove the work, but it changes how we carry it. And through both the highs and lows, our jobs can be catalysts to experiencing God’s presence more intimately in our day-to-day lives.

SAOL

Our website SAOL by An Tobar Nua Retreats offers engaging video series, lesson plans, and discussion questions designed for the Junior and Leaving Certificate RE curriculums. From personal development tools to faith-informed educational content, SAOL supports teachers and students alike! Make sure you look at the Teachers Resource Document for loads of great ideas!

Use this as another reminder that we’re not meant to carry the work alone.

Bibliography:

Augustine. Confessions. Translated by Edward B. Pusey. New York: Image Books, 1960.

Escrivá, Josemaría. “Work and Contemplation (I).” Opus Dei. Last modified March 19, 2014.

Escrivá, Josemaría. “Work and Contemplation (II).” Opus Dei. Last modified March 19, 2014.