Evidence of Divinity Visiting the Earth: Humans at Work

In yesterday’s DM we asked the questions: Is there evidence that God truly visits the Earth? and Do you sense that the essence, powers and activity of humans have become divinized? and What are those times?

Short biography of Florence Nightingale, “Angel of the Crimea,” who singlehandedly established the modern field of nursing. HISTORY

The evidence needs to come from from humanity itself. Unfortunately, human history is often less than edifying, less a story of love, justice and compassion, all attributes of Divinity dwelling in humans and human affairs. History seems to be more visited by wars and acts of alienation—including wars among ourselves and current wars against Mother Earth herself than with evident movements of compassion, the divine attribute par excellence.

But let us look deeper.  Wherever there is holiness there is God at work, there is Spirit inspiring, there is courage and expansion of heart, there is Joy, a divine attribute, Generosity, Beauty, Diligence, Sacrifice in working for justice and healing.  Such things are happening in the world alongside the dark messages that make daily headlines.

Short profile of Kenyan Nobel medalist Wangari Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement, which has planted over 40 million trees and trained over 30,000 women in income-generating forest-restoring work.

One finds it in parents who sacrifice for their children, in friends,  spouses and lovers who sacrifice for one another.  In children who sacrifice for their aging parents.  And in society’s efforts at education-to train health care workers, first responders, teachers, engineers, etc.   

Farmers providing food for our tables and so many other workers trying to give to the whole, the community, the common good.  Even some politicians qualify as workers for the common good.

Erick Hoopes, photographer and healer, fatally injured while building a spiritual center in Miami, Florida. Photo from the Hoopes family collection, published with permission.

There are scientists seeking to know our bodies better in order to heal diseases or exploring the universe more fully to instruct us on who we are and where we dwell as a species.  There are carpenters and builders and  computer nerds bringing their skills to bear on sharing information more fully and communicating more broadly. 

Yes, humans engaged in good work are humans engaged in the sharing of grace, where the essence, powers and activity of humans become divinized.

To be continued


See Matthew Fox, The Reinvention of Work.

See also Fox, Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet.

Banner Image: “It Ain’t Much, But It’s Honest Work.” American farmer David Brandt, known for working on sustainable agriculture techniques, specifically no-till farming and cover crops. Outside of the agriculture field, he was known on the internet for being the face of the “Honest Work” meme. Wikimedia Commons.


Queries for Contemplation

How does your work, both inner and outer, share grace and thereby participate in the divinizing of humanity’s essence, powers and activities?


Recommended Reading

The Reinvention of Work: A New Vision of Livelihood For Our Time

Thomas Aquinas said, “To live well is to work well,” and in this bold call for the revitalization of daily work, Fox shares his vision of a world where our personal and professional lives are celebrated in harmony–a world where the self is not sacrificed for a job but is sanctified by authentic “soul work.”
“Fox approaches the level of poetry in describing the reciprocity that must be present between one’s inner and outer work…[A]n important road map to social change.” ~~ National Catholic Reporter

Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet

Because creativity is the key to both our genius and beauty as a species but also to our capacity for evil, we need to teach creativity and to teach ways of steering this God-like power in directions that promote love of life (biophilia) and not love of death (necrophilia). Pushing well beyond the bounds of conventional Christian doctrine, Fox’s focus on creativity attempts nothing less than to shape a new ethic.
“Matt Fox is a pilgrim who seeks a path into the church of tomorrow.  Countless numbers will be happy to follow his lead.” –Bishop John Shelby Spong, author, Rescuing the Bible from FundamentalismLiving in Sin


Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE or scroll to the bottom of the page.

Share this meditation

Facebook
Twitter
Email

Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox is made possible through the generosity of donors. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation

Search Meditations

Categories

Categories

Archives

Archives

Receive our daily meditations

6 thoughts on “Evidence of Divinity Visiting the Earth: Humans at Work”

  1. We express our gratitude by becoming a free-will love and truth offering to the Lord of all existence in all that we do. We participate in the one endless and inclusive flow of divine incarnation. — BB.

  2. Thank you Matthew and DM Team for reminding and inspiring us that God’s Spirit of Divine Love, Wisdom, Peace, Justice, Healing, Transformation, Creativity, Beauty, Joy, Compassion… is very much ALIVE within and among Us in the daily lives of many unique Sacred human beings, Our sisters and brothers around Our Beautiful Sacred Mother Earth with Her living creatures and graceful abundance, in LOVING DIVERSE ONENESS within Our Beloved Evolving SOURCE~CO-CREATOR in the Sacred Process of the ETERNAL PRESENT MOMENT….

    1. I would like to agree whole heartedly with Damien and to thank you Matthew and team for your continual enlightenment and reminders of living on this earth in communion with all of creation.

      Blessings upon uoj for 2024,

  3. Hi Matt!
    I’m thrilled that you include the inspiring video of Wangari Maathai. Thank you!
    When I was working in Kenya I visited the Green Belt Movement office and met some of the wonderful people continuing Wangari’s vision.
    I have a very funny story to tell you about Wangari:
    One time, the government was planning to cut down a huge bunch of trees in a large park in the middle of down town Nairobi so that they could build buildings in that area. Wangari opposed that. So she, and a large group of women went to the park to stand in front of the trees in protest the cutting of trees. When the police showed up to arrest and move the women away, they all took off their blouses and bras and stood their bare breasted!!! None of the men would touch them! Wangari and her team won! That park, which I visited, is still there today!! Long live boobs! Ha!
    Love to everyone,
    Kristal Parks

  4. in one retail job I worked at, a “corporate requirements” was to say “thank you” after each customer purchase. Few employees followed through, especially since it was so fast-paced, but I got into the habit of saying it (quickly). It was the best habit they could have taught. I found myself saying it in all kinds of everyday situations and thinking about it in many contexts, becoming more aware of when other people did small acts of kindness and excellence.

    I’ve seen graced-living, the giving-of-one”s-best-inner-self-living, expressed in so many ways, including people doing their “menial” jobs meticulously well, giving excellent quality to their jobs even if few people notice or appreciate their effort and contribution. We don’t seem willing to acknowledge “dignified grace” in the incredible gifts to us of higher-quality living made possible by low-income employees and farmers.

    And small acts of everyday kindness, patience and courtesy often get taken for granted (or even taken advantage of) as our due. We live intertwined with all this generosity of spirit by other people, but we’re often oblivious to it all.

    We should honor the spiritual dignity and vital contributions of the “unseen workers” around us by remembering to say “thank you” … and by paying them a living wage.

    And by noticing how many ways people DO make our everyday lives better, in their acts small and large.

  5. I really appreciate this meditation and I shared it with my husband because it feels like it was written just for him. A personal question I have is – what can be considered work? I know I work everyday 24/7 because I am the mother of three young wild boys, ages 2, 4, and 7. But that “work” is not paid with money. I struggle daily with this fear or disappointment I have that I have not achieved the work I set out to do in my life. And I know that I have not achieved it because it would make me wildly happy and fulfilled, feeling quite satisfied… but I have a peculiar terrible relationship with my own self-esteem and “career” fulfillment. I wonder if my work of mothering my boys is God’s way of healing my fear of success and joy. Maybe I should lean into it more and not be engaged with thoughts of self-doubt about how I’m not earning an income right now… and soon I have to get back to “work” (when my youngest turns 3)… but what “work” should that be?

Leave a Comment

To help moderate the volume of responses, the Comment field is limited to 1500 characters (roughly 300 words), with one comment per person per day.

Please keep your comments focused on the topic of the day's Meditation.

As always, we look forward to your comments!!
The Daily Meditation Team

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join us in meditation that supports your compassionate action

Receive Matthew Fox's Daily Meditation by subscribing below: