Chop wood. Carry water. Load the dishwasher.

Credit: Alexander Zvir

You have heard of it—it is a Zen thing. Before enlightenment, you chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, you still do.

Zen Buddhists call enlightenment, “satori.” Christians call it, “metanoia.” How does it change your life, if you still have to do the same old chores?

Committed to the same old people. Responsible for the same old things. The difference is your awareness of the Holy. It is possible to “pray without ceasing,” as St. Paul describes it. It is possible to be continually aware, not just of God’s gifts, but of God.

It takes practice. A teacher can help, but really, it is up to you to practice. Since you can practice always and everywhere, it doesn’t even add anything to your to-do list!

While you load the dishwasher, notice where your awareness is. You might be resentful that you are the only one who ever does this chore, why doesn’t so-and-so do it once in a while? You might be looking ahead to the next thing on your list. Whatever you are aware of, odds are it is not the transcendent aspect of dried-on spaghetti.

The more you make an effort to attend to God at all times, the easier it gets, and at least for some, the practices they used to engage in to occupy their attention become less appealing. Less with the phone games, less with the junk reading, less with the earbuds. Now you have freed up some time, what are you going to do with it?

Perhaps you will engage in practices that make it easier for you to attend to the Holy at all times. Silent contemplation. Liturgical prayer. Fasting. All of these strengthen your ability to pray without ceasing.

Buddhists claim the self is an illusion. St. Paul claims the self is hidden with Christ in God.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Amazing and beautiful and true. What are you going to do about it?