"My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and come to their end without hope. Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see good."
Book of Job
I've worked as an accountant for approximately forty years. One of the strengths of an accountant has to do with "efficiency". In fact, clients expect that strength from their accountants. Ordinarily, whenever one focuses on efficiency, particularly in relation to financial affairs, some measurement of future results is the first expectation. After my retirement several years ago, I left my small severance cheque with a financial adviser. The first thing he told me at my initial meeting with him was what I could expect by way of growth during the following five years. Being a number cruncher, this was the information that I expected and wanted from him.
The big problem with those who expect efficiency, there are many aspects of life that cannot or should not be measured by this quality. Let's look at some scripture readings that speak to this point.
"My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and come to their end without hope. Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see good."
This story from the Book of Job is about a man who has experienced the loss of everything. He is in a state of despair. His friends come to see him to offer advice, to be efficient, but this is not what Job needs. What he needs is to have someone of faith who will provide a listening ear, to give hope through their love and acceptance. It is from "giving attention" with a listening heart that the process of healing will take place and hope will be restored.
Saint Paul speaks of this as well in Corinthians. Paul cannot "not" proclaim the Gospel. It is something that he must do. It is not a question of efficiency or measuring results and expectations. He does not do it for sake of an award, tangible or otherwise. He preaches in order to bring Christ to others, to share faith and love which in turn brings hope to those who need it.
Most of us have families, spouses and children. My intent, and yours is to love our families come what may. And it is also something we will continue to do in the future, despite the cost and despite the return. Like Saint Paul, we cannot "not" live with this intent to love our families.
I would suggest to anyone who is experiencing disharmony and strife in their relationships that they consider moving away from trying to be efficient, or managing things in order to attain some sort of expectation or result. I would suggest that they move towards "giving attention", to listening with an open heart. This will lead to hope and peace, not only for themselves, but for the other.
When it came to efficiency, Jesus was perhaps the worst. He lived at home until he was twenty-seven, took on His ministry for three years, and aroused so much animosity with those in power that they ended up crucifying Him on a cross. This is not a good example of efficiency. But Jesus wasn't interested in being efficient. He was interested in "giving attention" to those He encountered. During those three years of ministry, He changed the course of history for all of us over the centuries. Jesus heals us, invites us into His Trinitarian family, and gives us hope. And He does this as much to the hopeless today as to the hopeless two thousand years ago. Is this not the predominate mission to which we are called through Christ?
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