John Eight Thirty Two
• Nov. 30, 2007 - REBELLION AGAINST WORK
When I was a child I read the Little House books. I thought those people were amazing. As a child my notions may have been 'romantic' but I still thought that the pioneers were incredible, especially because my grandparents were pioneers here in this country and they too did not have electricity or machinery to help them. The next generation decided that they didn't want to work as hard as the one before them........ (That to me is where the rebellion crept in).
More recently we have been reading through the Little House series and my children are thoroughly enjoying every page. We have had the most amazing discussions. We have traveled around this country to archaeological sites, seen how people lived thousands of years ago and I have been learning HEAPS. I am thoroughly convinced that the human race is not progressing. If you take away the myth of evolution and the cave man and the various 'ages' (stone, iron,bronze etc) and read the Bible and study world history, you will see that whole civilizations were built and thrived without all the modern 'conveniences' of today. When God created us, He also equipped us. The problem comes in where the concept of 'work' was not handed down to the next generation......
We are becoming more and more reliant on machinery and equipment and not using the natural gifts, talents and strengths that God gave us - mentally or physically. Computers and robots can do it all now. Believe me, I am grateful for my computer and internet. I am also the first to be thankful that I don't have to take my clothes to a river to wash them, all I do is push a button. But! I also have to insist that pushing a button is not physical WORK. What needs to get done is getting done but it can not be categorized as 'work'. Someone somewhere else is either doing or has done the work for me. It means I pay workers. I do not do the work myself. I live in an apartment high up in the sky. I do not grow anything except some mint. I rely on those that 'work' for my survival. Going shopping is not work.
There are a few words in the Hebrew for 'work'. The Bible uses all of them and in their definition they all require actual physical effort with something productive to show for it at the end. Pushing buttons doesn't fit the definition.
I am generalizing here but in this 'push button' society, I see children becoming experts from a very young age and having nothing to show for it except aching thumbs and a host of other physical and mental complaints. They stopped playing outside, stopped climbing trees, stopped learning how to use basic tools, don't even know what the names of the tools are and what they are used for anymore. They don't know that the milk they drink comes from anywhere other than a carton. They have not seen their parents 'work'. They will not 'work'. The example given by the 'old days' is scorned.
It used to be that most men were 'handy' even if they didn't go into a 'trade'. It used to be that girls were taught how to do all the basic hand crafts we now call hobbies. They knew how to cook and clean and keep their family provided for. They had far fewer clothes and knew how to make them to last. They had far less of everything including space in the house. Relationships were good. Food was wholesome; processed and instant food was unheard of. So were so many of the diseases and disorders becoming more commonplace today. People were out working in the fields, obesity was unheard of. Effort was made in every facet of life and it was quality life. Boredom was never a factor.
Many years before I was in high school, they stopped making "housecraft" compulsory as a subject at school. Before then all girls who went to school learned all the basics of kitchen science, boys who went to school learned how to be husbands and fathers able to provide... In the last few years I was at school they took away woodwork and metalwork from the boys' curriculum and cooking and sewing from the girls'. It was deemed old fashioned and only those children who were not 'academic' did those things. That was over 20 years ago.
There was a time when there was a working week of 6 days when work was done followed by one day of rest when one ceased from doing work/labour. Nowadays people have all the modern conveniences and complain that they need a break and a rest. It doesn't make sense to me. All this time on our hands and so much grumbling........ What happened to "Do everything without grumbling and complaining......"?
I was remembering the times when we had a car. When we had one child it was fashionable to put music on to entertain her and keep her occupied. Then we had another child and put music on for both of them. In retrospect I see that I missed out on so much amazing conversing and interaction with them. Then our car sound system was stolen and we had to come up with games like "I spy" and "Spelling bee" and "spot the scenery". Losing the sound system was a good thing. Giving up the car was even better (but we do miss it I admit) Now, we pretty much walk everywhere and it is the best relationship building time.
I feel that society has taught me to be lazy and spoiled. I want things and I want them now and I am willing to pay, even go into debt for it. I am wanting to pay low prices not taking into consideration that some child labour laws have been broken somewhere in the world to get that product to me at the price I am willing to pay. That was in the past. We don't do that anymore. We buy only fresh products from the open air markets. It is the way people used to live in the uncomplicated past and we are simplifying our present. It is revitalizing! I am teaching my children about hard work. They do not get paid for doing chores or bribed to do them.
Proverbs 6
6Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no captain,
Overseer or ruler,
8 Provides her supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
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• Nov. 30, 2007 - Untitled Comment
I agree, His Word is clear on what 'work' is and what it is not.
The 'ant' gathers.....that's work.
Calling Domino's Pizza for dinner, and opening the door to let him in? NOT WORK!! :-)
Laura