Having a mind to work

James Cathcart March 12, 2024 3 5

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Nehemiah 4: 1-6 (NRSVA)

1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he mocked the Jews. 2 He said in the presence of his associates and of the army of Samaria, ‘What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore things? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish it in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish—and burnt ones at that?’ 3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, ‘That stone wall they are building—any fox going up on it would break it down!’ 4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their taunt back on their own heads, and give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and do not let their sin be blotted out from your sight; for they have hurled insults in the face of the builders.

6 So we rebuilt the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half its height; for the people had a mind to work.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

When the going gets tough, the tough… moan for a bit.

When the going gets tough, the tough could use a break.

When the going gets tough, the tough get fed up.

When the going gets tough, the tough stop for a cup of tea.

When the going gets tough, the tough moan a bit more.

When the going gets tough, the tough go back to the drawing board and draw some more.

When the going gets tough, the tough ask for help.

When the going gets tough, the tough start singing, sometimes out of tune but always with gusto.

When the going gets tough, the tough do a half-time huddle.

When the going gets tough, the tough have a bit of laugh and a few biscuits.

When the going gets tough, the tough pull together.

When the going gets tough, the tough don’t try and tough it out, or out-tough the other toughs.

When the going gets tough, the tough remember the vulnerable.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Prayer:

Show us true toughness God,

give us a mind to work

and bodies that know the importance of rest

and kindness,

so that when the going gets tough,

we can get going.

Amen.