Actually, I believe it was prayer.

When I first got the email from my contact at my agency (I'm a contractor), I feared the worst. "Here we go again. I'll be looking...oy vey."

So, on the way to the meeting, I said, "Lord, I'm not the best, but I try. I help Steve (my brother) with his mortgage so he (hopefully) won't loose his house. When I'm at Mass each Sunday I can continue to give. I give hundreds of volunteer hours each year. I need to pay the mortgage. You help me and I'll be able to help others more."

Much to my surprise, after asking me how things were going, she said, "Your boss is so happy with you that we would like to give you a $6 an hour raise."

I froze. It was not what I had expected, and for me, prayer is what made the difference.

The company I work for is treading water. Everyone has had to take 2 furloughs last year, including me. There is a hiring freeze. And many of the engineers have been given a choice of taking a lower salary in a new office in Florida or leaving.

Not everyone has faith. I do, so I see it as a result of prayer.

Now...granted...if I had not taken the turgid, confusing, repeating text from the old proposals and converted it into living, breathing text that tells the story better, with clearer diagrams, photos, and visuals that is easy to read, the outcome might have been a little different.

After all, we are co-creators of this world.