LIFE IS MORE THAN WORK

In one of her many articles Joan Chittister says, “If the question is, What is really important in life?—the answer is only life itself, living it well, immersing it in beauty, love, and reflection”.

When I was younger I bought myself an A4 diary which had a page for everyday of the year.  If that didn’t make me feel important enough then I made sure the diary was filled with appointments, all day and every day.

When people asked me how I was I could truly answer BUSY!  The dreadful buzz word which says something about you but allows you to hide behind much.

For a number of years I was busiest person alive and at the same time the crankiest, impatient and exhausted person alive.

I defined myself by how busy I was rather than who I was.  Work was my life.

If people saw how busy I was then they would love and respect me.

How stupid I was!

Three years ago I somehow contracted Legionnaires Pneumonia.  I was in hospital for two weeks including five days in intensive care.  I lost 13 kilos in weight (I now which I could lose some weight!!!) and was not allowed out of hospital till I could walk by myself.

Having been a marathon runner I was amazed how quickly the body deteriorates.

It is often said that when something major happens in your life the way you look at life and live life after the episode can change.

I think this is true for me.

My work life now is only part of my life.  It is not my life.

Dr Chris O’Brien, a Sydney surgeon who died from cancer over 10 years ago, said that his life as a surgeon was everything to him. “The people need me!”  When he had to retire due to his illness it amazed him that he did not miss work at all.  His whole focus in life changed.

I do believe if you can find the right work place environment I think you have won the pot of gold.  For me, I think at present, I have won this pot of gold.  My alarm clock buzzes at 6am and I get out of bed to begin the many morning rituals. I make a cup of coffee from my Nespresso machine and pour it into a keep cup and take it with me to my car around 6.45am.  Start the car and turn the radio on to SEN and listen to Garry and Tim as I make the journey to either Bentleigh East, Moorabbin or Bentleigh arriving around 7.15am.

The mornings are a wonderful part of the day as I experience the various seasons of the Melbourne weather pattern.  Now, fortunately, I am arriving at work in a little daylight.  Soon I will experience the sun rising as I drive down Centre Rd.  The people I mix with at the three schools are all focussed on the importance of learning and teaching.  There is always a vibrant conversation happening in the staff room as everyone runs around trying to get done what they need to get done.  The joy and enthusiasm from the students lifts my heart to realise that God is truly present in creation.

At the end of the school day I leave through the school gates very happily and leave it all behind.

In the past I would take work home.  This would either be for correction or more often than not it would be the thoughts occurring in my head.  I could never leave these thoughts at school.  I never knew how to turn off.  The thoughts would lead to crankiness, impatience, anger and exhaustion.

There is so much merit in the 8-8-8 day.  How many of us live this way?

All of us at some stage in our life need to address where we are in our relationship with self, others and God.

I now know that at my funeral no one is going to say I was great because I had the biggest diary in the world which was also filled with so many appointments.  He was so important because he was so busy.  At the end of the day the diary is nothing. 

But they will say what sort of person I was. 

How loving was I?

How giving was I?

How generous was I?

How caring was I?

How humble was I?

How thoughtful was I?

“For when you did these things to others you did them to ME!”

Edward Dooley (Mission and Faith Leader)