Faith on the Quad Lessons from Manual Labor

Jul 21, 2009

“The Lord God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.” (Gen. 2:15)

           

As the hot sun beat down on my neck and the sweat dripped from my brow, I put the umpteenth shovelful of dirt into a wheelbarrow. Over and over again I underwent the same process: dig, scoop, lift, and dump. This is just one of the many tasks of manual labor I take on every summer, along with mowing lawns, raking leaves, and sweeping up sand. At first I did these jobs around the neighborhood for some extra cash in my pocket. Little did I know these monotonous jobs would have an enormous and beneficial impact on my life.

           

My dad has always proclaimed that when I do something I dislike it will “build character.”  This phrase has had a negative connotation to me until recently, when I discovered that my dad was actually correct. Waking up early on hot summer days and mowing grass was the last thing I envisioned doing during my summers, but it has truly developed my character as a whole.

 

First of all, it requires the discipline of going to bed early and waking up early, a great sacrifice for a teenager like me, who enjoys staying up late whenever possible. If I did not get an adequate amount of sleep, my job performance would suffer and subsequently result in the loss of customers. Being disciplined all summer taught me about the value of commitment. Whether it is for a job, school, or any everyday event, one must be committed to perform his or her best. Without this vital characteristic, one may never reach, or even realize, his individual potential.

           

After performing manual labor for three years, I have actually come to enjoy it. I can see the fruits of my commitment and strong work ethic. I now find many repetitive procedures to actually be very therapeutic. Raking leaves for example, once a tedious process, actually became a source of relaxation for me. Repeating the same process- rake, rake, put in bag, rake, rake- requires virtually no thinking. This process can take my mind off nearly all of my daily stresses and problems and help me to focus on things that are important to me. Idleness in watching television or playing video games – a common place that people turn to soothe their soul - does not even compare to the great serenity of monotonous manual labor.

           

Because of my diligence and sacrifice in what was often grueling and monotonous work, I stand today as a better man. This character formation allows me to experience greater success in school, sports, and everyday relationships. It is not a mystery to me why God gave me the ability to perform physical and strenuous work. In my continuing realization of life’s real gifts, which include the wisdom of my dad’s words, I will strive to always give thanks to God. I believe it will help me to honor Him in so many other areas of my life, now and in my future.

           

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