What is My Work?

I got up early one morning to meditate before doing my "work" for that day -- developing my new writing project. But my spiritual energy took me elsewhere.

An idea came into my mind, unbidden. It seemed to be a response to a conversation I had about a week before with Ann Smith, Director of Women's Ministries and Missions for the Episcopal Church. She talked to me about African women, the work of the Ministries and Missions and the desire of an African woman, Margaret Auma, to put on a conference for widows. Widows in Africa have no rights and little or no opportunity to earn a living.

The thought that invaded my quiet time was, "Give that Kenyan woman the money she needs to put on the conference. Do it in honor of your mother, Teresa. She was a widow, remember!"

I repeated my mother's name over and over: MY mother Teresa, my MOTHER Teresa, my mother TERESA, MY MOTHER TERESA! I hadn't thought of my mother using her first name in many years. And I was stunned. Where did this thought come from? Was it an inspiration? Was it a command?

I am currently engaged in work in Haiti, believing that it is "my bundle." I try to stay focused and not scatter myself in too many places. "Not Africa!" I said to myself.

Then I remembered that I had a stock certificate that was mailed to me a few years ago as a stock dividend. I went to the file and found it: 92 shares. When I called to find out how much money the Kenyan woman needed to put on the conference, Ann told me she had received a few hundred dollars and about $900 more would do it. I looked at the stock price in the New York Times and discovered it was selling between $8 and $9 a share which, when multiplied by 92, was very close to the amount the woman needed. I was stunned at the coincidence, the connection---the divine intervention.

I sent off the certificate to the National Episcopal Church office with the directions to sell it and send the proceeds to Margaret Auma in Kenya. Within a week, I received an email from her. How happy she was! Her plans were now able to go forward thanks to the proceeds of the stock.

I can't describe the joy in my heart when I read her message, captivated by the way the world has truly become a global community.

Through the insight I received in the quiet of 5 a.m., I became motivated to help fund a conference for African widows. And that gesture, that nearly $900 investment helping dozens of African women to start a better life, is what I have come to recognize as my true "work" for that day.

Defining work is a difficult question for many of us. Is it the effort we expend day after day from 9 to 5? The tasks we do to keep the household going and the family cared for? The volunteer activities in our community? The odd job we're inspired to take on? The steps we take to satisfy the need to fulfill our dreams?

Or is it possible that our real work is listening to the still small voice that we hear from time to time?

I believe it is our work to heed that voice and make connections. As women we are all interested in the same things -- family, church, community, health, education, growth, love. When we allow ourselves to come together and acknowledge that we are all in the same boat, we begin to take better care of ourselves, as well as the boat! And as we share the tasks, we all feel uplifted. We can actually begin to heal the world and continue the work of co-creation.

Technology means we can now share our knowledge, experience, faith, conviction, voice and resources with our neighbors via the Internet. E-commerce can become e-community. Together we can develop a community that strengthens ourselves, our families and our faith, and those of all our neighbors in the world.

And then we will truly know we are doing our day's work.

Group Questions

1. How would you describe your work now?
2. How do you listen for guidance?
3. What hope do you hold for the future?