Transformation occurs when you surrender your life to the will of God. Unfortunately, you do not always have a map, nor can you call or text God on your smart phone for directions. Praying to God, then listening in silence is the way. Sometimes you can’t hear the response due to the multiple distractions that bombard us each moment of every day.

I am learning this as I continue integrating my faith and service to the community in spiritual care with my work in the world. Mitigating this challenge is becoming a priority in my life. I am happy to say that God, the Source of Life, is winning. Whenever my work poses any conflict with my Faith I begin to get dysfunctional. I have struggled because this seems to start before I am fully aware of it. It is not even a choice any more. I simple can no longer give energy or do things that violate my faith. Sometimes throughout my career I was able to express this and that was enough, my supervisor or manager would permit me to adjust the process I was using so it would fit my conscience. But that has not always been the case. Now when this conflict arises, I surrender my next action in my daily prayer, as Centering Prayer, St. Ignatus Examen, or Lectio Divina, I sit in silence after completing the structured prayer and wait in silence. Then Clarity comes. Then I do the next thing.

So here is my challenge. How can I live my faith and make a living that supports my family at the same time? How can I remain authentic, living as a whole hearted, God loving, human being, and still work in an imperfect world that seems at every step to be working against the True self I am becoming. It seems the only way I can do this is to work in ministry or be in a professional position where I can control my daily schedule.

The first and my preference is to get a job doing the work God wants me to do that will provide for my family. As a rehabilitation counselor and consultant for the more than 30 years, I have always believed I was doing the work of God by helping individuals with disabilities find livable employment.

Since retiring two years ago I decided to offer my services as a consultant. In January I started a part time job with Northern Light Health Inland Hospital as the Spiritual Care Coordinator. Since I was in the business for more that 15 years ago, I am getting cases assigned.

So I continue day by day to do the work assigned from the W, I am serving at Northern Light Health Inland as The Spiritual Care Coordinator. God willing it will all in good time.