November 19, 2025

It has never been God’s intention for us to work ourselves to death

Today in prayer I hear, “Today we want to talk about work.  The ability to work is part of a wholesome, God-given body and mind. There is dignity in work, and it keeps the body and mind healthy.  There is all kinds of work, paid and unpaid, so this is not just about work for money, but all kinds of work of human hands and intellect – caregiving, housework, yardwork, volunteering, office work, construction, and so on. 

“Working is healthy, but it has never been God’s intention for us to work ourselves to death, or to work ourselves to ill health. We are not meant to push, push, push until we use up every last ounce of life force and energy. We are not meant to deplete our bodies and minds, otherwise known as ‘burnout.’

“And do we realize that this imperative to work ourselves to death like a cog in a machine or like a chip in a computer until obsolescence is part of a continuum?  On one side of the continuum, this work can benefit society and be for a good cause.  On the other side of the continuum, human beings can be used by the powerful to enrich themselves, satisfy ambitions, and fortify their positions of power.  This last is what we must be watchful for – this edge of the continuum is to be guarded against.

“As individuals, let us treat our bodies and minds as sacred spaces, capable of prayer and meditation, of connecting with the divine and with universal Spirit. Let us treat ourselves gently, remember God’s love. Take time to breath, to eat, to sleep, to drink water, to remember our inherent worth. Take time to enjoy the beauty of the sky, of trees, of music. Take time with friends or family or even comraderie with fellow subway riders on a tough commute.  These are the moments to remember we are human beings, not mere gears in the capitalist machine.

“That is all for today. Amen.”