Hi! A few days ago marked one year that I relocated from the Phoenix, AZ area back up north, this time to Prescott (I’d lived in Sedona for six years). It’s yet another opportunity to reflect upon my life and what’s occurred during this one year.

Well, one thing that’s still with us all, yet in a morphed state, is the coronavirus. One of its positive impacts has been more remote job opportunities in my contract work. A year ago that made me feel confident that I no longer needed to reside in the Big City and thus allowed me to plot my relocation to a smaller, more rural town.

I’m in my third technical writing contract since then, an unusual occurrence. While I’d been in relocation mode a year ago, I was in a contract with a bank that had already been running for a year and been renewed for another six months. Once I got settled into my cocoon here in Prescott, I started pounding the pavement rigorously, and landed a contract with a fintech firm. For the past two months I’ve been working at a university, a big change from the financial field. I am most content with the work, the people, etc. and thoroughly grateful.

My job takes up a large portion of my life and time (thank heaven, I no longer have to spend additional time commuting!), as is the case for many folks. I strive to remember Spirit in all my interactions, although I find it easier to forget The Presence when in a workplace and the creative juices are flowing (which, of course, is God working through me). My current environment is one where there is a strong focus on people and their work-life balance—you can probably understand a bit why I’m content and grateful!

I seem to feel Spirit’s presence and to enjoy a more meaningful life when I do volunteer work, aka “service.” Over the past few years it’s been a challenge to do any/much that’s in-person, which is what I prefer. With the world opening up more, I’m looking for service I can do that not only makes use of my talents and experience, but makes a marked difference in people’s lives. Hence, I am pursuing volunteering at the local library’s adult literacy group.

I love reading—my life’s path would have been vastly different without that ability. But it is a skill, one to be learned, and if a person reaches adulthood and doesn’t have it, they will be sorely challenged living a sustainable and satisfying life, being shut out of a myriad of opportunities. The movie Stanley & Iris comes to mind.

What also comes to mind, which I will never forget, was meeting a newcomer at a Twelve Step meeting. Regardless of the specific recovery program, reading Twelve Step literature is a major tool used, including literature from the original fellowship, Alcoholic Anonymous. This man shared that when he’d first sought recovery years before, he was advised to read the Big Book (aka “Alcoholic Anonymous”); however, he was illiterate. He so wanted recovery that he was motivated to successfully learn how to read, starting with the Big Book! Needless to say, his life was transformed dramatically, not just from working the Twelve Steps, but by acquiring the skill of reading. Hearing his story, I was in awe. In doing volunteer work helping others learn how to read, I hope and trust that Spirit will use me to positively impact a person and their life’s path. Of course, in the exchange, my own life will be enhanced, drawing me closer to Spirit and adding more meaning.

The focus of this month’s newsletter is on recognizing Spirit in all our work activities, creative and not-so much, paid and unpaid.

With the topic of Spirit and work, I immediately thought of the song Hammer and Nail by Daniel Nahmod, an Orange County, CA-based singer, songwriter, and humanitarian. It is a very powerful song and one of my favorites of his. Last week I was blessed to see and hear Daniel in person (after several years) as he was at Unity of Prescott; I asked him to play this song as it is not one he plays often in concert. What fun!

One can find inspiration anywhere! A number of years ago, I found it while doing volunteer work cleaning toilets at a yoga studio.

It was synchronistic for me to have come upon the post Toilet Tuesdays in my You, Me, and Spirit blog this morning as I prepared this month’s newsletter about Spirit and work. It was originally published more than a decade ago. Reading it now, I naturally drifted back to that time in my life, easily remembering the surrounding circumstances.

And, once again I realize that any activity can bring me closer to Spirit. Read the post and see if you agree.

A criminal record can last a lifetime, making job reentry—and beyond—an uphill journey. At Laughing Bear Bakery, release from prison is a fresh start. Where other employers look at former prisoners and see only a risk of re-offending, retired correctional center chaplain Kalen McAllister sees multifaceted individuals on the road to a new and productive future.

She doesn’t even ask new hires what crime they committed: “I don’t care. Because for me, it’s this day forward.”

Read the fascinating and uplifting story here.

I know that this is the time of year when you might be taking a break from your work, e.g., job, volunteer role, etc. and going on vacation.

Whatever your activities, wherever you are, whomever you are with: The Presence—Spirit, God, Allah, Great Mystery, Divine, Creator, Mind, and any other name you call this Power—is with you, always. We are all together in The One.

Joyce S. Kaye, MSW