The Dignity and Blessing of Work

Work is a four letter word! Fewer than 6% of Americans love their work, in spite of the fact that we spend over 30% of our lives at work. No wonder half of American marriages end in divorce. Practically everybody's in a state of misery. We have sold out our dreams in order to have jobs. Consequently, work has become a dreadful place that hardly inspires a sense of awe and wonder. But labor is life! A popular Yoruba poem reads this way: 

Ise Logun ise, Work is the antidote for poverty
... Mura si se re, ore mi 
Work hard and work smart, my friend
Ise la fi ndeni giga 
Hard and smart work brings success
Bi a ko ba reni fehin ti 
When there is no one to rely on
Bi ole la ri 
Its like we are lazy
Bi a ko ba reni gbekele, 
When there is no one to trust
A te ra mo se ni. 
We focus more on our work
Iya re le lowo lowoh 
Your mother might be rich
Baba re le lesin lekan 
Your father might own a thousand and one horses
Ti o ba gbojule won 
If you rely on them
O te tan ni mo so fun o 
In truth, you might be on sinking ground

Apa lara igupa ni ye kan 
families are like the arm, while extended family are like the elbow
B'aiye ba fe o loni 
If you are loved by the world today
Ti o ba lowo lowo, won a tun fe o lola 
If you are still rich, they will love you tomorrow as well
Abi ko wa nipo atata If you have an esteemed position
Aiye a ye o si terin terin 
You will be honored with "fake"laughter
Je ki o deni ti ra ngo 
If you unfortunately loose your money or position
Ko ri bi won ti nyin mu si o 
They'll turn their back on you

Iya mbe fomo ti ko gbon 
There is suffering for the foolish child
Ekun mbe fomo ti nsare kiri 
and there is sorrow for the child that have no plan or vision
Mafowuro sere ore mi 
Don't waste your formative years, my friend
Mura sise ojo nlo. 
work hard and plan well now, because time waits for no one

Activity and continuous struggle to make things happen represent the essence of life, in every dimension of nature. The river never ceases to reach for the sea. The most meager grass will find a way even through concrete. The journey of life is a labor of love. In the holy odu Ogunda Owonrin, Ifa teaches us that the industrious man and woman, of true dignity, who glorify work, are on their way to affluence and victory over all enemies. Ifa teaches us that it is through our work that we transcend the small mindedness of others. Deeds are seeds! The harvest will appear in due season!!!! Ase!

---