Lisa Notes: Dirt under your fingernails? The practice of physical labor

Dirt under your fingernails? The practice of physical labor

He who is aching in every limb, worn out by the effort of a day of work, that is to say a day when he has been subject to matter, bears the reality of the universe in his flesh like a thorn.

The difficulty for him is to look and to love.

If he succeeds, he loves the Real.
- SIMONE WEIL

Can we use physical labor as a path to the heart of our Creator? As a way to know Jesus, to love Jesus?

Barbara Brown Taylor says in An Altar in the World,

If all life is holy, then anything that sustains life has holy dimensions too.

The difference between washing windows and resting in God can be a simple decision: choose the work, and it becomes your spiritual practice.

. . . No task is too menial to serve as a path. If you are able to sustain other lives along with your own, then all the better.

May we use even our most menial tasks as holy offerings of love.

* * *

Is there a physical chore you hate to do?

How do you flip it mentally into a choice to bless others?

April 2013: The practice of saying no
March 2013: The practice of wearing skin
February 2013: The practice of slowing down
January 2013: The practice of waking up to God

Comments (28)

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Dianna · 622 weeks ago

What a sweet surprise to stop by here this morning and find YOU right here, sharing your heart about your spiritual discipline for the month of May! I LOVED this, Lisa...hearing your voice, seeing your face, and feeling your heart! You are precious to me.
My recent post Happy May Day to YOU

1 reply · active 622 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 622 weeks ago

Thanks for your sweet words, Dianna; I always feel very self-conscious when I do a vlog. But I do think they're so real and I want to be real, so for better or worse, this is me. :-) I know you can relate to digging in the dirt. I always enjoy seeing pictures of the beauty you nurture in and around your home for the sake of Love.

And you inspire me to get started on African Violets again--I kept several for decades, but when the last one died out, I never replaced it. Maybe this is the year! Have a blessed day. You are precious to me, too, and very loved!
My recent post Dirt under your fingernails? The practice of physical labor

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Mari-Anna Stålnacke · 622 weeks ago

What a great series, Lisa! This practice of physical labor reminded me of Brother Lawrence. How he learned to do dishes and converse with God at the same time. It takes some practice but I think it is the sweetest way of life. May God help us all to embrace that more and more in our lives. Big blessings to you, sis! You are wonderful!
My recent post Faith Is an Adventure

1 reply · active 622 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 622 weeks ago

I thought of Brother Lawrence, too. I read his little book every few years as encouragement to practice the presence of God in everything and everywhere. Isn't it wonderful? Thanks for your encouragement, Mari-Anna--you are a blessing to me!
My recent post Dirt under your fingernails? The practice of physical labor

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dukeslee 37p · 622 weeks ago

Oh Lisa! I just love you. I love your heart. And now I get to HEAR your heart, with your voice! This is splendid. Such.A.Treat.... Thank you for the reminder that our physical labor is a holy offering.

The physical chore that I dislike isn't very hard, but I really don't like it: dusting the house. I will try to view it in a different light this week. :)
My recent post #TellHisStory: When You’re Desperate to Find the Main Thing

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 621 weeks ago

Dusting isn't one of my favorite chores either. :-) Except that the dustier it is, the more pleasure I get out of it. (Maybe I should let it pile up? ha) Tomorrow is cleaning day so I'll get to see how faithful I can be to a higher motivation....
My recent post APRIL 2013 Posts

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Mia · 622 weeks ago

Dear Lisa
This made me think of Paul telling the Corinthians that whether they eat or whether they drink, they should do all to the glory of God. Yes, dear friend, your whole life can be a sacrament of love when we heed Paul's advice!!
Blessings
Mia
My recent post NaPoWriMo 2013: Five Favorites

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 621 weeks ago

Nice connection there, Mia. That verse is worded interestingly in The Message--love the ending phrase "heartily and freely to God's glory."

"So eat your meals heartily, not worrying about what others say about you--you're eating to God's glory, after all, not to please them. As a matter of fact, do everything that way, heartily and freely to God's glory." 1 Corinthians 10:31 (Message)

My recent post Dirt under your fingernails? The practice of physical labor

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annkroeker 35p · 622 weeks ago

Wonderful post! The value of work...physical work. Thank you for coming to The High Calling to see what my girls are doing--I will play your video for them, so they can think about the spiritual act of worship in their work, if they have the right mindset.

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 621 weeks ago

Thanks, Ann. And I should send my teenager daughter to read your post! She's looking for a "meaningful" job this summer. ;-) But ANY job can be meaningful if we look at it as such.
My recent post Dirt under your fingernails? The practice of physical labor

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Elizabeth · 621 weeks ago

Hi, friend! Yes, all to His glory! Oh, to do all as worship unto Him.
My recent post Finding God's will and purpose for your life...

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 621 weeks ago

That's definitely our goal, right? Now to put it into practice... :-)
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fsamons 60p · 621 weeks ago

What a beautiful setting! And now... I'm guilted into getting rid of the weeds in my yard!

To work is a gift. I remind myself that God made the Garden for Adam to work when the world was perfect. It was only after the fall that the sweat and the thorns came into the picture

I also remind myself of this verse, "Sweet is the sleep of a man that laboureth."
We get to be blessed and filled with gratification from sharing words and seeing the wonders that come from the soil of His creation. Gonna get my hands dirty this weekend... Thanks, Lisa.
My recent post CLOSE TO THE VEST

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 621 weeks ago

I like your point that God created the gardening job BEFORE the fall (my earthly dad would approve of that, too--he actually enjoyed working in his garden every summer). I like the results of it more than the work of it, but there is definitely a satisfaction that comes from getting sweaty. I think it's a God-thing in each of us. So get those hands dirty and get rid of those weeds this weekend! :-)
My recent post Dirt under your fingernails? The practice of physical labor

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jean Wise · 621 weeks ago

I love listening to your voice and seeing you in action. What great words. Makes me want to get out in my garden. You stated more intentional to use our hands, I think that will be my challenge too. Your positive attitude is contagious!
My recent post Sitting is my Only Option

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 621 weeks ago

You're sweet, Jean. Hope you find some enjoyable and productive work to do with your hands!
My recent post Dirt under your fingernails? The practice of physical labor

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3dlessons4life 38p · 621 weeks ago

This is something my husband excels in.... it's how he worships best. I have learned much from watching his life
My recent post Rescue Operation

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 621 weeks ago

My husband too! No job is too small or dirty for him. In the place where we volunteer, I find myself at times standing around, not knowing what to do next, but he is always on the move, finding whatever needs doing or someone that needs help. So I'm trying to learn from him too. So glad God gave us good men!
My recent post Dirt under your fingernails? The practice of physical labor

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jerralea 29p · 621 weeks ago

It's funny you would focus on physical labor as an act of worship. The last few days I've been reflecting on Bro. Lawrence and his treatise, Practicing the Presence of God. He believed you could worship while doing menial tasks such as peeling potatoes.

Let's see ... I guess dusting is my least favorite physical chore. I guess I can contemplate on how He removes the dirt from my life as I remove dust from my home ...
My recent post Speak Up!

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 621 weeks ago

You're the second vote for dusting as a least favorite chore. :-) I love your perspective; I'll have to remember that tomorrow when I dust (hopefully!). :-)

Isn't Brother Lawrence a wonderful example? His few words have spoken loudly for centuries now!
My recent post APRIL 2013 Posts

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Brother Ollie · 621 weeks ago

I'm taking action on this...time for me to be a good steward to God's blessings and get a bit dirty.

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 621 weeks ago

Sounds interesting! Hope it goes well.
My recent post APRIL 2013 Posts

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hisfirefly 20p · 621 weeks ago

Cleaning floors has always been a problem to me, mostly because I feel I don't do the task well so never feel a sense of accomplishment...
Have I tried to learn to do the task better? No, I admit, no.
My recent post Muffled

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 621 weeks ago

Sweeping may be one of my least favorite chores. Even though I can see progress from it, I still feel like I'm basically just redistributing the dirt. ha. I think my favorite chores (if there are such things) are ones that I can see the most results--getting that sense of accomplishment. I'm glad God doesn't judge us that way though! I don't want to be judged for my results....
My recent post Dirt under your fingernails? The practice of physical labor

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Jennifer Dougan · 621 weeks ago

Lisa, I agree. This choosing to see any task or time as time to practice the presence of God, as Brother Lawrence would say. Then it can all become worship, as I wash dishes, serve my kids, make meals...

Thanks.

Jennifer Dougan
www/jenniferdougan.com
My recent post Running in My Head Like a Memory

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 621 weeks ago

"to practice the presence of God" - exactly. I need to go put it into practice right now as I clean the bathrooms. :-)
My recent post A May day - 2013

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kelliwoodford 24p · 621 weeks ago

what a unique topic, one that i would do well to let sink in as i wipe bottoms and scrub dishes and sort laundry.
love your angle on it, Lisa. thank you!
My recent post Brave Words: You are my Sister.

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 621 weeks ago

It's funny how I keep seeing the subject everywhere I go now. So much good information out that to remind us to transform our physical into spiritual.
My recent post Are you a Pharisee?

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