I wanted to share with you a passage I read last night that sort of jumped out at me. It was really beautiful and worthy of further meditation. Sometimes, its easy for us to get caught up in complaining about our jobs and work. This happened to me recently. I was dissatisfied with the work God had given me and thought that I needed more money. I started an auto sales business on the side of my primary job of being a college recruiter. Well God taught me a lesson in greed, and lets just say, not only did I lose a very lot of money, but it didn't turn out well. Hopefully, I can be content with what our Lord provides me, and live within my means.

I really liked the part 2 of this section. I haven't done this enough, but I need to offer all my works to God more. I had meditated on this prior, but didn't really grasp how I could offer everything I do to God, even if it wasn't spiritual. This really helped. I will also post in the library, but was hoping this might be available for discussion's sake too.

In the style of Hobble, this is from the work: F. R., Lasance. The Young Man's Guide. San Francisco: Benziger Brothers, 1910. 294-96. Print.

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The Trials of the Workman

I will hedge up thy way with thorns (Os. ii. 6)


The words of the prophet, "I will hedge up thy way with thorns," apply in a greater or less degree to all men; for it was greater or less degree to all ; for  it was said to the father of the human race and to all his posterity: "Cursed is the earth in thy work: with labor and toil shalt thou eat therof all the days of thy life. Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee" (Gen. iii. 17, 18) Hence it is taht thorns spring up everywhere, in the mansions of the rich as well as in the hovels of the poor. Yet there are some states in life where they seem to grow more luxuriantly than in others. Most of you, if not all of you, are in the employ of others, and this is one of the states in life that has its abundance of thorns.

    I.  The thorns of the workman may be turned into roses by his being contented with his calling. Contentment with one's calling can be obtained by looking at the world as it is. It is an abode of trials, sufferings, a valley of tears. "The days of man," says Job, "are like the days of a hireling" (Job vii. I). And the author of the "Imitation of Christ" tells us that mortal life is full of miseries, all signed around with crosses (Imit. bk. 2, C. 12). It is not only the state of the workman that has its trials- every state in life has its own difficulties and thorns; there is none where the sky is perpetually serene adn where roses bloom forever. In other paths besides the one you pursue, thorns are found to wound the feet of the wayfarer; indeed, they are often of a size of which you have no conception. Many a thorn of which you know nothing is found in the path of the priest, the doctor, the lawyer, the father of a maily. Even in the highest ranks of society tears flow in abundance, and "he that weareth purple and beareth the crown" (Ecclus. xl. 4) is often crushed to the ground by a heavy burden. Cast your eyes upoln the world about you, compare your work with the work of others more heavily burdened, compare your trials with theirs, and do not complain about your state in life, but be content. Let us also remember that men often conceal their troubles from the world, and that many a man hides a sore heart behind a smiling countenance.

Another source of content is found in looking up to God, whose will we perform. Our holy faith teaches us that there is a divine providence that disposes all things: "He ordereth all things sweetly" (Wis. viii. I). "They eyes of the Lord are upon the ways of men, and He considereth all their steps" (Job xxxiv. 21). Holy scripture teaches us that God disposes all things, especially the ways of man; it must, then, be God's will that we be in the state of life that we find ourselves in. What a consolation for us! As we work, we are doing the will of God. Then again, contemplate the son of God. He in whom were all tings created in heaven and on earth humbled Himself, "Taking the form of a servant" (Phil. ii. 7). The first thirty years of his life were spend in the workshop of his foster-father, St. Joseph. Ought not this consideration make you contented with your lot?

    2.  Another means of turning the thorns of your calling into roses is found in this, that your work may be made meritorious for heaven. Such roses never fade. Nothing is easier than this, for God in His mercy counts to our merit a cup of cold water given in His name. How much more meritorious than a cup of cold water will be your daily labors and trials if offered up to Him! St. Paul exhorts us: "Whatsoever you do, do it from the heart, as the Lord and not to men, knowing that you shall receive of the Lord the reward of inheritance" (Col. iii. 23,24). If you work for God, not merely for men, all your labors and trials will become valuable for eternity, and will merit for you the "inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that can not fade, reserved in heaven for you" (I Pet. i 4). The wages you earn up on earth are indeed small, but the reward you may receive for them in heaven is incomprehensibly great. In this manner the thorns in your way may be changed into roses that never fade, and which will be woven into a crown to be placed on your brow for all eternity.

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Another source of content is found in looking up to God, whose will we perform. Our holy faith teaches us that there is a divine providence that disposes all things: "He ordereth all things sweetly" (Wis. viii. I). "They eyes of the Lord are upon the ways of men, and He considereth all their steps" (Job xxxiv. 21). Holy scripture teaches us that God disposes all things, especially the ways of man; it must, then, be God's will that we be in the state of life that we find ourselves in. What a consolation for us! As we work, we are doing the will of God. Then again, contemplate the son of God. He in whom were all tings created in heaven and on earth humbled Himself, "Taking the form of a servant" (Phil. ii. 7). The first thirty years of his life were spend in the workshop of his foster-father, St. Joseph. Ought not this consideration make you contented with your lot?

The aforementioned part is the one I had a hard time accepting, for I chose my job when I was far from the Church. Even though there is nothing inherently evil about such job, I was not sure to be doing the will of God back then. How could I be certain to be doing the will if God now, provided that I continue in the same career?

Hi Jonah- Your welcome! I'm glad someone read it.

As to your question/ concern: I can see why you might think that. But perhaps reanalyzing the words may help to show you how I see this for you.

"He ordereth all things sweetly" (Wis. viii. I). "They eyes of the Lord are upon the ways of men, and He considereth all their steps" (Job xxxiv. 21).

Notice that these verses of Holy Scripture don't speak of our Heavenly Father, God, as 'ordereth the things of the holy', or as ordering 'the things of Isreal', etc. He ordereth ALL things, which I imagine to include Him being able to work in, and through, your (or anyone's) life whether or not you were a part of his flock.

Also, the latter verse mentions "men", in general. They're not speaking of the Just or unjust, but of 'men.'

So I would say its very probable that God has worked some part in your life prior to your coming to the Church, Jonah. God can only give grace to turn people to Truth, if they have not yet found it. He is, "God, that created heaven and earth, and hath power over all flesh." (Daniel, 1:3)

Of course, your father confessor is the best counsel on this; but I would say that, according to Fr. Lasance, that regardless of when you'd begun your work, "your work may be made meritorious for heaven". Secondly, keep in mind our Lord may very well have, and most likely did, have a hand to play in your previous life.  Lastly, I don't think that this means you must be a slave to the same job forever. The point I find Fr. Lasance attempting to make, is that ones work, whatever it is, can, and should, be done in the name of God; one should offer his work up to God; for if it weren't for our first parents, we would have to do no work. But since we do, it is "meritorious" to offer whatever work we do to Him, even though we have to anyways.