An Acolyte's Thesis on the Value of Labor

[Arbiterhark 16]

Ad Laborem
Yevgeny Bogdanovich Krestyanik 

Acolyte in the Patriarchate of Jorenus

 

Brothers and Sister in Godan, I am a simple man, a fallible man, from the Duchy of Valwyck. Yet even in the far corners of Canondom, I learned my letters and numbers from the Holy Scrolls. But I also learned the Word of Godan through my everyday labor. For it is when one toils to one’s fullest capacity in labor towards Godan’s creation that one can truly feel the Word of Godan in their being. That labor is virtuous is no novel revelation. In the Scroll of Virtue, it is written “For I have blessed you with My miracle of creation, and you shall draw nearer to My throne by your labors. And you shall discover strength of heart as you work the forge and the plow.” [Scroll of Virtue 4: 6-7]. The passage that follows in the Canticle of Diligence also shows that to fail to labor at all, to exist in a state of Sloth, is to not act in Godan’s image for “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not be idle, nor forget your duties in favor of sloth.” [Scroll of Virtue 4: 8]. It is clear from this Canticle that Godan calls upon us to labor in our station, in his Virtuous image. As clearly stated in the Epistle to the Elves [Scroll of Spirit 4:3-5], labor extends beyond plowing the fields or working the forge. For just as it is righteous to toil in the fields, harvesting vegetation and fruit bearing trees, it is just as righteous to sell goods in the market or lay the brick in the city street. For through righteous, virtuous labor, we bring ourselves closer to Godan. Therefore, the labors of the farmer or knight, merchant or master, all are righteous before Godan and equal in Virtue when pursued to the fullest extent of their capacity [Scroll of Virtue 6: 6-7].

 

Righteous labor and Void-damned sloth. It would appear to be a dichotomy. One may either labor, or not. Yet what is the spiritual state of one who labors, and therefore is not slothful, yet doth not labor to the fullest extent of their capacities? For though their hands are not idle, their hearts are not fully joyous with the worship of labor in honor of Godan. Is the Labor of a Farmer who plows all his fields to their fullest, so that his poorer neighbors might glean from his harvest in charitable spirit not closer to the image of Godan than the Farmer who plows only enough so that he and he alone might eat? For not only are we called to Diligence, but we also are called to Charity [Scroll of Virtue 2: 1-11]. Yet when one only toils enough to satiate themselves, to do the minimum, do they not reduce their own capacity for charity?

 

Therefore, I beseech thee all to consider the words of this Brother in Faith from Valwyck, that you might fully apply yourself in your labors before Godan, be you farmer or knight, merchant or master. For it is only through the fullest application of ourselves in labor in this World that we can hope to achieve our position in the Skies.

[KaiserJacobII 1048]

To the devout Brother Yevgeny, @Arbiterhark

 

Your writings on labour and diligence show a deep understanding of the Canticle of Diligence. I am glad to approve this Thesis. Please find myself or another Clergyperson of some authority to be ordained, and begin your journey in our Holy Mother Church.

 

GOD bless,

Francis Cardinal Albarosa

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[LightTheTrainer 464]

Jordan Cardinal Jorenus laid upon his bed in St. Henrik's Basilica, and, having been unable to sleep, took the theses and read over it - at least he would not have that to do tomorrow, and placed a inked stamp shoddily upon the page, marking his approval.