Engaging the World
For those who lead in mission, service and peace ministries.
Sabbath space in the workplace
By Marlene Kropf
A recent article in our Sunday newspaper told of ways employees decorate or arrange their work places. Some display family photos or vacation snapshots; some fill their space with plants or art; others decorate for the seasons. Workers want to make the workplace more comfortable, more attractive, and more human.
God’s call to take our faith into all of life requires that we also give space for the Spirit where we work. For many of us, our work hours are filled to the brim with too many tasks, jangling telephones, demanding customers, and ever-present deadlines. Especially in such an environment we need space for Sabbath. Just as we set aside one day a week for worship and recreation, so we need moments to renew our lifegiving connection with God. Here are some beginning suggestions for creating such space:
Pray with a cup of coffee
When work is hectic, it can be tempting to scoot out the door in the morning without taking time to connect with God. In Prayers From the Heart (Hodder and Stoughton), Richard Foster offers a morning prayer that any of us can make a part of our daily routine. Foster prays it while drinking a cup of coffee; when the coffee is gone, he is ready to turn his attention to the tasks of the day:
Somehow, Jesus, I like praying with a cup of coffee in my hands. I guess the warmth of the cup settles me, and speaks of the warmth of your love. I hold the cup against my cheek and listen, hushed and still. I blow on the coffee and drink. O Spirit of God, blow across my little life and let me drink in your great Life. Amen
Pay attention to the stuff of life
It is in the midst of ordinary activity that God wants to meet us, not just in set-apart times like Sunday worship. Listening carefully to a coworker instead of being distracted by our to-do list is a start. Stopping to engage a lagging child in conversation rather than impatiently scolding her creates an opening for God’s peace. When an angry customer calls, we can pause, remembering that this person is also created in the image of God. What could feel distracting or even irritating becomes, instead, a moment of grace in which we are buoyed by the Spirit’s presence and power.
In an adaptation of the prayer practice known as the Consciousness Examen, we can step back for a couple of minutes in the midst of our day to ask:
- How am I experiencing God’s presence or God’s grace today?
- In the moments of struggle, what might God want me to notice?
- What do I need from God to face the rest of the day?
As we respond to these simple questions, we find ourselves becoming more and more in tune with God’s purposes and God’s call to us.
Find a rhythm of work and prayer
The practice of punctuating the day with moments for intentional prayer was established long ago by the ancient Hebrews. The psalmist affirms, “Seven times a day I praise you . . .” (Psalm 119:164). Following this example, sixthcentury Benedictine communities established a daily rhythm that included scheduled times for prayer. All work ceased as the monks made their way to the chapel for corporate prayer.
We can set aside moments of our workday for prayer. Turning on the computer can be a moment for gratitude and praise. A ten-minute walk around the block at noon can create space to pray for healing and peace in the world. As we clear our desk at the end of the day, we can place our work in God’s hands—to bless and make fruitful.
The daily rhythm of Sabbath moments is intended to renew and restore us each day with gifts of peace and joy. Meant for the workplace as well as our homes and the church, these gifts extend God’s reign on earth, bringing blessing and hope to a weary world.
Marlene Kropf is Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation and Worship at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. She is also a denominational minister with Mennonite ChurchUSA’s Congregational and Ministerial Leadership Team.