Work...

The first question asked upon meeting someone is often, "What do you do?"  Our job defines us for other people, it allows them to "place" us in an understandable box, gives us a role and definition in a world which is often confusing.

My current job was a gift from God, dropped out of heaven on a sunny fall afternoon, not in my time frame, but in his.  Having put my full faith and trust in him, I followed the path he set for me, and it led me to the place I needed to be right now.  I am fortunate to have my job, and I feel valued and appreciated in my work.  I serve a necessary function, and I think I do the tasks fairly well.  (My co-workers may not always agree, but I try!)

But does my job give insight into who I am as a person?  I have found over the years that what people do and who people are is frequently not the same thing at all.

For example, I spend my days answering the phone, waiting on customers and doing bookkeeping.  It would appear, from my position, that I am a lineal thinker, precise, number oriented, practical and social.

I think anyone who knows me well, however, would laugh at that description, because it is not the me they know at all.  On the contrary, I am a creative, flexible thinker, I hate the telephone and prefer texting, I am quite introverted, I zealously guard my personal space, and I am often forgetful because my mind is a million miles away.

Although I enjoy it most of the time, I would hate to be defined solely by my job, because that is such a small snapshot of who I am, and of my life work.  Although it takes the most time, it isn't even the most important work I do each day.

Spreading the message of my faith is the work of the Spirit.  Every moment I am alive, I have the opportunity to model and live out the love of the God who sustains and uplifts me, spreading the Good News of God's enduring and unconditional grace.  Although we may fall short of the goal, each of us is tasked with sharing our faith in whatever way we can, at all times, and in all places.

Today I am grateful to have a job which pays for the necessities of life.  And I am even more grateful to work for the Spirit, spreading the message of God's salvation wherever I can.  I am privileged to know where I am headed and what I will do when I get there, both in this life, and for all eternity.