Last week in this column I reflected on our experience of being so involved in work to the extent that we miss to pay attention to equally important issues such as proper attention to family matters and other social responsibilities. We say: “mambo ni mengi” meaning that we have our hands full of work. It is ironic that when some of us are drowning in endless work, others are loitering and suffering from joblessness.
However, let us today reflect on functionalism as our Philosophy professor used to say: It is that state of life where working or functioning becomes everything. It is work, work, work, non-stop. He calls this functionalism.
All traditions and spiritual scriptures invite us to work hard, and work hard we must if we are to make a difference in our world. Growing up I learned to work with my parents at home and in the farm, and when I went to school, the same rhythm of work was emphasised. Most of us have that experience: we like to work hard and well.
The problem arises when work and working become everything. One becomes what we call workaholic or functionalistic. That is where we begin to lose contact with our inmost self, our spirit. When working reigns supreme in our lives, our spirit becomes dry and inspiration from the Divine and from our innermost spirit becomes rare. Our spirit becomes disconnected from transcendent values such as love, compassion, forgiveness and service above self.
Functionalism erodes our humanity and sense of connectedness to world and all that is. Worse, functionalism robs us of maximum attention to what we are doing. The quality of our work declines and work becomes boring and unrelated to those very people we are trying to serve. Think of the overworked doctor or nurse who looks at you as if you are a curse to her or him. Think of the teacher who has worked all day and all night to the extent that he does not want to see those “troublesome students.” Functionalism robes us of the very value we aspire to reach: quality of work.
Many traditions and philosophies teach us to work and then let go of work so that our spirit, mind and body may be rekindled, renewed, re-energised. The British say: All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. Greek philosopher Socrates says: Life without reflection and rest is not worth living.
This is an invitation, therefore, to let us learn the rhythm of work and rest, work and recreation, work and letting go of work, in short: Knowing when to work hard and when to stop so that our spirit, mind and body may be re-energised.
