By James L. Nolan

Nobody who works for a living would be surprised to hear that we live in a period of rapid change, shifting boundaries, and faint allegiances. Just look at the wild mood swings of the stock market and furious protests against globalization -- the latest signs of these blustery times.

It is fair to ask whether it is even possible to lead a spiritual life in the 24-7 world economy. After all, what saint spent her workday behind a computer screen? How many famous holy men or women have we heard of who taught middle school kids, worked in the ER, prepared tax returns, or served as the CEO of a multinational Fortune 500 company?

Not many, but I have a better question: What are we doing, anyway, when we work? If you look at it through the lens of faith, you'll find a few surprising, and hopeful, answers.

First of all, we have to recognize that there is good and bad, progress and decline, in all we do.

On the good side, we can see that our work provides others with needed goods and services. It also gives us a platform to grow our skills, talents, and God-given gifts. As we combine our efforts with others, we enhance the common good by, among other things, creating and distributing wealth, promoting the growth of community within our workplaces, and developing new technologies.

But this is not the whole story. All our work is not yet heaven on earth by a long shot. Downsides must be acknowledged. There are dehumanizing organizations and systems that promote and reward not what is the best in us and for us, but what is worst in us. Think of an illegal drug cartel as an example of a hard working, very profitable organization that promotes evil and does harm.

Just where is God in all these creative and destructive aspects of human work? The answer is "all over the place." We see God working in and through His creation.

We, God's creatures, are called to be co-workers in the divine project. We are invited to use our intelligence, our energy, our savvy, and all that we care about in pursuing that call. When we do so, we understand and chose the positive, and recognize and diminish the negative. When we work and make life better in any way, we are not doing it alone. We are in league with God, being led by the Holy Spirit working within and through us. Now that's what I call the big leagues.

Our work is much more than a job category or pay grade. It is where we work out who we are; where we know, choose, and do what is worthwhile or best. It is where we can truly team up with God -- who is already there, working in us, beckoning and energizing us to work for the greater good.

The prophet Micah berated the leaders of ancient Israel for ripping the people off, charging huge

sums for lavish sacrifices, and for corrupt life styles and greedy behavior. He predicted many horrible consequences. He reminded his listeners that even the most extravagant of offerings to God would not alter the judgements they had merited. Then he offered them, and us, his famous advice:

"You have been told, Oh man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8).

Alone, it is hard to do this well. We are sustained in this time of challenge and change by our relationships with our neighbors and coworkers, in our faith communities -- and when we "walk humbly with our God."

God's work is being accomplished in history,working its way over time. But toward what end, ultimately? Toward where we will live in profound peace, pervasive justice, and joyful love. Now, that sounds like heaven on earth. Jesus called it the Reign of God.

James L. Nolan is a former executive director of the Woodstock Business Conference, a program of the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University in Washington. The Conference has chapters that meet monthly in 18 cities.