Finding Meaning in Any Kind of Work
“The work of each one of us, the activities that take up our time and energy, must be an offering worthy of our creator” (St. Josemaría Escrivá).
Your job is not just an earthly occupation; it also has a divine purpose. This is true for any kind of job or work, no matter the industry, organization, role, responsibilities, or tasks. You don’t have to work for a ministry or join a religious order to bring God into your work and share him through it (although both are beautiful vocations!). All work is a participation in God’s creative power.
St. John Paul II wrote in his encyclical “Laborem Exercens,” “By [the faithful’s] competence in secular fields ... elevated from within by the grace of Christ, let them work vigorously so that by human labor, technical skill and civil culture, created goods may be perfected according to the design of the Creator and the light of his word.” Through our dedication and faith, God can sanctify our work.
It’s easy to lose this perspective, though. The daily grind can remove us from the divine nature of our profession. Even in a dream job, we all experience days and tasks that have us sighing with frustration, struggling to focus, or stressing about a deadline. When this happens, take a few minutes to reflect on these lessons the saints teach us about work:
Every Task Is a Prayer
St. Josemaría Escrivá emphasized that we should treat our work as a personal prayer: “If you seek sanctity in and through your work, you will necessarily have to strive to turn it into personal prayer. You cannot allow your cares and concerns to become impersonal and routine, because if you were to do so, the divine incentive that inspires your daily tasks will straightaway wither and die.”
When we view work as a prayer, we give it the same attention and care as a conversation with God. This perspective brings meaning and purpose to even the most tedious and mundane things. As St. Josemaría Escrivá said, without this prayerful approach to work, we will lose motivation. And, without divine motivation, the quality of our work will inevitably suffer.
The Ordinary Sanctifies Us
Some aspects of our work are more fulfilling than others, but it’s the ordinary parts of our work that unite us with Christ. St. Josemaría Escrivá explained, “You can be sure that it is through the circumstances of ordinary life ... that we come close to God.” Similarly, when we struggle or fail, we are also united with Christ’s own suffering. We share not only in his creation but also in his sacrifice.
If we value all tasks equally, we imitate Jesus’ own workmanship and humility. St. Josemaría Escrivá wrote, “In his simple workshop, unnoticed, he did everything to perfection, just as he was later to do before the multitudes.” Just as we are called to worship with equal fervor in public and private, we should perform all tasks with the same fervor regardless of whether we receive recognition for them.
Work Is Love in Action
The effort we put into our work is an expression of love to the people we work with, the people we serve, and God. St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “In the work we have to do it does not matter how small and humble it may be, make it Christ’s love in action.” When we put love into our work and show love to our co-workers, clients, and partners, we become a witness of Christ’s love.
We also need to recognize that the professional success we have is not to our own credit. As St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “However beautiful the work is, be detached from it, even ready to give it up. The work is not yours. The talents God has given you are not yours; they have been given to you for your use, for the glory of God.” We should be proud of our work, but we should give all the glory to God.
These divine truths about the dignity of work encourage us when we grow weary, lack inspiration, or become discouraged. It isn’t easy to find meaning in a basic task, but treating it as a prayer gives it worth. We should strive to give our least favorite things the same respect as our favorites. So, let us begin each workday with the question, “How will I love God and others through my work today?”
Christine Warner is a marketer and writer living in Detroit. Her marketing experience includes working for brands like Uber, Samsung, Walgreens, and Dignity Health; she writes for publishers like Verily Magazine, Aleteia, Brandingmag, and Content Standard. Christine currently works for the Archdiocese of Detroit as the director of marketing. Connect with her on Twitter @cvwarner or on Instagram @christinevwarner.