work

I saw a short ad in the classified section last week: "Free Firewood" and a phone number. Adam called during a break from siding the south side of the house yesterday afternoon. The lady said it was a maple tree that had blown down in a storm. Not excellent firewood, but better than the elm we have. She wanted him to come and get it today. Knowing how hot it was outside and how much work getting firewood can be, I offered to help.

An hour later, we arrived to find, not maple firewood, but an oak tree that had blown down in a storm. We expected that we'd have to do some cutting, but this was a LOT of work to do in the heat of the afternoon. If it had been any other tree, we may have left it, but aside from the bottom four feet that were rotten, this was a big, straight, solid oak tree, it was shady, and there was a breeze, so we got to work. Three hours, three bottles of Gatorade, and three salted nut rolls later, we had most of it cut and loaded. Hot, tired, and dripping with sweat, we headed home with our firewood (that still needs to be unloaded, split and stacked).



When we walked into the house, it felt like a refrigerator. I thought someone had turned the temperature down, but no, it was set at 83. (Our 83 degree house does not feel quite so cool, today). An ice cold glass of water, a cool shower, a simple dinner, clean sheets on the bed. I felt a new appreciation for these little luxuries that we take for granted day to day. I am thankful for the opportunity to work...hard. It gives me an appreciation for the people who do it every day, making me feel more in solidarity with them. More than that, though, it made me feel good about myself, having something to do with the "Personal Dignity" of work that John Paul II wrote about in Chapter 9 of Laborem exercens:

"Work is a good thing for man-a good thing for his humanity-because through work man not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfilment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes 'more a human being'."

But, more than this personal fulfilment, there is a mysterious spiritual aspect to the work we do. John Paul II meditates on work "In the Light of the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ" in Chapter 27 of his encyclical on Human Work:

"Sweat and toil, which work necessarily involves in the present condition of the human race, present the Christian and everyone who is called to follow Christ with the possibility of sharing lovingly in the work that Christ came to do. This work of salvation came about through suffering and death on a Cross. By enduring the toil of work in union with Christ crucified for us, man in a way collaborates with the Son of God for the redemption of humanity."

Nevertheless, I am glad that I don't have to work this hard every day to reap such personal and spiritual benefits, as John Paul II points out in Chapter 9:

"Toil is something that is universally known, for it is universally experienced. It is familiar to those doing physical work under sometimes exceptionally laborious conditions."..." It is likewise familiar to those at an intellectual workbench; to scientists; to those who bear the burden of grave responsibility for decisions that will have a vast impact on society. It is familiar to doctors and nurses, who spend days and nights at their patients' bedside. It is familiar to women, who, sometimes without proper recognition on the part of society and even of their own families, bear the daily burden and responsibility for their homes and the upbringing of their children. It is familiar to all workers and, since work is a universal calling, it is familiar to everyone."