Alberto Hurtado, SJ - There is a Christian Way to Work

There is a Christian Way to Work
Personal reflection written in November 1947

You begin by giving yourself. He who gives himself grows. But one must not give oneself to just anything, nor for just any motive but only to what is truly worth the effort: to the poor in their misfortune, to this area in its misery, to the exploited classes, to the truth, to justice, to the emergence of humanity, to a great cause, to the common good of one’s nation, of one’s group, of all humanity; to Christ who sums up all these causes in himself, who holds them, purifies and elevates them; to the Church, messenger of the light, giver of life, liberator; to God, to God in all plenitude, without reserve because He is the highest good of the person and the Supreme common good of all. Each time I give myself in this way, sacrificing what is mine, forgetting myself, I acquire more value, I am a more fulfilled being.

Look at things on a grand scale, love on a grand scale, think on a grand scale, achieve on a grand scale. When you begin a work you must prepare it patiently. Improvising is generally disastrous. Love to see a work well done, and in order to achieve this, put all the time necessary into the task.

Think and think again. In each thing acquire the sense of what is really essential. There is no time for anything less. Foch used to say: “When a man of moderate gifts concentrates his energies on one goal, he will achieve it.” Life is too short to lose time in intrigues. Many do not look for the truth nor for the good, but rather for success.

Frequently men are taught not to do something, not to involve themselves, not to risk. This is precisely the reverse of life. Each one has only a certain potential for struggle and it must not be wasted in skirmishes.

One must embark on the journey without knowing what ships will be found on the way or what storms will come up. Once the normal precautions have been taken, set out! Learn to love the combat, consider it normal. Don’t find it strange, accept it, show courage, don’t lose control of yourself; never be unfaithful to the truth and to justice. The weapons of a Christian are not the same as those of the world. Love the struggle, not for itself but for the love of the good, for the love of your brothers who must be liberated.

You must persevere. Many are left wasted after the first battles. Know that ideas walk slowly. Many imagine that because they have found some truth, this will captivate other spirits. They become irritated with delays, with resistance. Resistance is normal; it arises from apathy or from differences of culture or environment. Each one starts out from what they are, from what they have received.

Don’t be daunted or irritated by the opposition, this is normal and frequently is correct. Better to be happy that they resist us and dispute with us because in this way our mission penetrates more profoundly, is rectified and enlivens the discussion.

They will tell me: “Your work is going through a crisis.” But my friend, a work in progress always has elements that are not up to par. A work that endures is always in crisis.

Remain pure, solid, seek only what is true, what is good, what is just. Be simple and take pains to remain simple. Go on believing in the ideal, in justice, in truth, in the good, in the goodness of human hearts. Believe in the resources of the poor. With good faith engage in combat against the powerful. Don’t try to deceive nor accept resources that bring corruption.

When the obstacle you face is the opposition of others, the best tactic is often to go on your way without protecting yourself against this opposition. Precious time is wasted in polemics when the only thing that counts is the goal. If the opposition comes from men of good will, from the saints, from superiors, I must verify my direction, be sure that I am in step with the Church.

Remember: “one goes further after one has been tired out.” The great asceticism is not to pause to pick flowers along the way. Suffering the cross consists above all in persevering in the struggle once begun. This above all is what conforms us to Christ.

There are those who wish to develop themselves without pain. They have not as yet understood what it is to grow. They want to improve themselves through music and song, through study, through pleasure but not through hunger, anxiety, failure and the hard struggles of every day, nor through accepted weakness and incapacity that teaches us to unite ourselves to the power of God; nor through the abandonment of one’s own plans to discover the plans of God. Pain of any kind is a benefactor because it teaches me my limitations, it purifies me, instructs me to take my place on the cross of Christ, it obliges me to turn back to God.

In a realistic group of apostles, phrases like this are often heard: “After one hard rock, comes another….” 90% failure, be glad anyway! Begin by convincing yourself: Failure builds. Joy, peace… That’s life… and life is beautiful! Don’t stir up a storm, raise your voice or become indignant and irritable. Go on laughing and boosting everyone’s spirits. Above all, persevere in what you are doing. Nothing is ever completed in a month: at the end of ten years the accomplishment is enormous. Every drop counts.

To give myself without cost, without cheating, in all fullness, both to God and to my brothers and God will take me under His protection. He will protect me and I will remain unharmed in the midst of countless difficulties. He will lead me to do His work, the work that really counts. He will take charge of polishing and perfecting me and put me in contact with those who seek Him and whom He animates. When He takes over, He does not let go easily.

To achieve this optimism there is nothing better than the vision of faith. Faith is a light that permeates. The longer the life the stronger the light. It penetrates everything and makes us see all things in light of the essential, the eternal. One who follows the light of faith will never walk in darkness. It has a solution for all problems and, thanks to it, in the midst of the struggle when one can do nothing more under the pressure, like the cork that explodes from the champagne bottle, one escapes upwards and unites with Christ and in him finds peace. Faith makes us see that each drop counts, that the good is contagious and that truth triumphs.