Work as a way of life
It's been a different kind of life, living here on our five acres for the past 9 months. There's been a lot of work to do, with the remodel and also the land. I remember when we first bought our house, and then again when we moved in, there were some growing pains as it started to dawn on me how much work and projects would not only be a part of Ben's life, but my life as well. I lift heavy boards, get dirty and sweaty, and in general do a lot more physical work than I used to do.
While certainly a boon for your physical health, I have been really surprised by the new attitude that has settled upon me. Maybe at some point in my life I had thought that working on a house or landscaping was in some ways selfish, putting a lot of stock in appearances. Or another school of thought was that it was perhaps unnecessary or a waste of time. Why take time to weed a huge flowerbed when you could be spending quality time with your kids? Or that mowing a big lawn for two hours a week takes away from time you could be using on something less menial.
But I've really been revisiting my thoughts from many years ago on work being a way of life, and the value there is in that. Even more than it benefiting you, I've had a deep sense settle into me that what we are doing is benefitting many others, and is even a gift to our Savior.
"God has designed this mortal existence to require nearly constant exertion. A consecrated life is filled with work, sometimes repetitive, sometimes menial, sometimes unappreciated but always work that improves, orders, sustains, lifts, ministers, aspires," Elder Christopherson said.
The thing that has been most surprising to me as our physical work has greatly increased has been how much I feel Heavenly Father's approval and gratitude for what I am doing. I was not expecting it. I don't feel it in a general sense "work is good for you" or the broad satisfaction that you get from completing a project, but a specific "thank you" for working on this house. It's as if He is saying "thank you for building my house," as if our home and land become a temple in a way, a beautiful peaceful place where His spirit can dwell. We are not motivated out of pride or appearances, but because we are trying to take something that was once beautiful and restore it once more.
We are reminded in Doctrine and Covenants, "Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul." I am grateful for the chance to consecrate my time by doing work, and to consecrate my strength and my health to build a place where the spirit of God can dwell.
