"What are you doing today?"

That is what the chiropractor asked me when I went in for an adjustment this morning. I heard myself say, “I’m working.” It sounded flat, true and not accurate at the same time.

As he adjusted my spine, Dr. Rueben said, “Hmmm, is what I do work? It doesn’t seem like it. It's more like fulfilling my purpose. And it gives provision for more purpose in other areas of my life.”

I responded, “I like that. Sometimes I feel that, as an artist, people don’t think I work and I justify my efforts with, ‘I’m working.’”

He chuckled, “So they don’t think you just play with crayons all day.”

“Yeah. I need to find another word. "Work" doesn’t say it well. Any ideas?”

We threw some ideas back and forth:

 "Answering the call on my life, walking out my destiny, fulfilling my purpose."

I think they sound a bit lofty for an answer to the question, “What are you doing today?” In reality, they are true. Every day, each choice made, an action taken can be a step to answer life's call, fulfill a purpose, and realize destiny. I believe it is not often what we do, but why we do it that can lead to the meaningful “what.” The why also informs the "how."

“Put your heart and soul into every activity you do,

as though you are doing it for the Lord Himself ...”

Colossians 3:23

The Passion Translation

Dr. Rueben knows his why.Maybe I will start asking people, “Why are you doing what you’re doing today?” That would be a conversation starter, don’t you think?

As I was leaving the chiropractor, he asked, “So what are you doing today?”

I answered, “I am finishing an article to submit for publishing that is due.”

He said, “So you’re working then.”

We exchanged knowing smiles.

The funny thing is, the next person I saw asked me, "Are you working today?"...

“He who works with his hands is a laborer.He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.”

- St. Francis of Assisi