Author Gretchen Rubin hosts a podcast on the subject of happiness. She recalls how she once interviewed Sandra Day O’Connor (the first female Justice in the US Supreme Court), and O'Connor offered her own definition of happiness in just three words: 'work worth doing'.
Work is a broad word, by no means limited to formal employment. Work includes parenting (and grand parenting), studying, home-making, gardening, self-work and much more. Work is wired into the fabric of creation - the Genesis account reminds us that God worked for 6 days and then rested. Work is affirmed and valued by God.
We may be tempted to think that happiness is what happens when work stops! - when we can take a break from our daily tasks. That may be true to some extent - we do need to rest and play (and even God observes a Sabbath in the creation story). On the other hand, I recently heard a preacher comment that research from developmental psychologists suggests that the happiest, most well-adjusted children are those who over the years have been invited to contribute meaningfully to their families through doing chores at home. Maybe O'Connor is onto something?
This week we mark a transition for a beloved member of our community as Valda ends her time of formal employment at WMC and takes on new worthwhile work - caring for her grandson and her family. Join us for tea after the 09h00 service this Sunday as we gather to thank her and wish her well.
Work is a broad word, by no means limited to formal employment. Work includes parenting (and grand parenting), studying, home-making, gardening, self-work and much more. Work is wired into the fabric of creation - the Genesis account reminds us that God worked for 6 days and then rested. Work is affirmed and valued by God.
We may be tempted to think that happiness is what happens when work stops! - when we can take a break from our daily tasks. That may be true to some extent - we do need to rest and play (and even God observes a Sabbath in the creation story). On the other hand, I recently heard a preacher comment that research from developmental psychologists suggests that the happiest, most well-adjusted children are those who over the years have been invited to contribute meaningfully to their families through doing chores at home. Maybe O'Connor is onto something?
This week we mark a transition for a beloved member of our community as Valda ends her time of formal employment at WMC and takes on new worthwhile work - caring for her grandson and her family. Join us for tea after the 09h00 service this Sunday as we gather to thank her and wish her well.