Vocation lessons

On Sunday morning I shared one of my favorite quotes in my sermon. The quote comes from a book written by Parker Palmer called, Let your life speak.

I've written about this book and even this specific quote many times before, as this phrase came into my own life at a time I was wrestling with my own calling or vocational purpose. When I'm in the midst of confusion and worry over the course of where my vocational process may or may not be heading, I find myself returning to this well loved phrase in order to help find a center space where I cans see progress and hope in the process that is vocational discernment

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

(Note: This quote was not originate with Mr. Palmer, but he uses the statement that originates with Fredrick Buechner's little book Wishful thinking: A Seeker's ABC's as a means of telling his own story concerning vocational wrestling.)

Both Palmer's and Buecher's book have been great clarifying companions in the midst of my own heady ongoing process of clarifying vocational direction. These books - and authors - have been faithful to helping me live into the vocational labyrinth that so many of us think we are only wandering in. But the truth is...to borrow from another famous quote from Tolkien...not all who wander are lost

Image found at: Not on the high street

We wander.

We all hope we have made the right choice in regards to the work we have chosen.

Sometimes what we work at does the job of putting bread on the table and a roof over our heads.

Sometimes the work is a vocation that seems to choose us - and we find more than bread and head covering in what we do.

But from the September 6th excerpt of Simple Abundance states...

"No matter what form our job takes, the content is the same as everyone else's; we are here to minister to human hearts. If we talk to anyone, the we have an opportunity to bring more love into the universe. From a waitress to the head of a movie studio, from an elevator operator to the president of a nation, there is no one whose job is unimportant to God", and so Sarah Ban Breathnach continues..."no matter what our present circumstances, is to discover the work we would love to do. But until we do, we need to learn to love the work we're presently doing."

Once again the world's deep need and our deep joy meet and call us to pay attention. Vocation and work can be a joy. For those longing to experience this vocational joy, I pray you have the time and space to find it. For those in a bad work environment, I pray for strength and a way out as well as the ability to hold on knowing God thinks what you already doing is important.

Your work is important.

Your work matters.

Your work will someday be the deep vocational joy that meets the world's deep need... one eight hour shift at a time.

Peace laborers - it's time to take a break.

You've done and honest day's work.

Until tomorrow here are some more borrowed words to give you hope...

“All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.” ― Julian of Norwich

Sincerely,

Vicar Tara

Sunny and rainy day friends

There are two kinds of friends in the world: Sunny day friends and rainy day friends. This is a statement that my Mom used to remind me of when I was in the midst of drama or conflict with one school friend of another. There are lots of people that we define as friends, but they are really acquaintances. Two men were out hunting in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes and his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing? Don't you know you can't outrun a grizzly bear?" "I don't have to outrun a grizzly. I just have to outrun you!" This story is funny, but it does help define the distinct difference between a rainy day friend and a sunny day friend. The sunny-day-friend is more concerned with watching out for their own health and wellness, than their friends' wellbeing. On the other hand, a rainy day friend is willing to take risks, work fo

FCE - Dog stroke in spine

Kahlúa is our 15 year old dog that we adopted from the Humane Society when she was four. She joined our family and has been with us for eleven years so far. This morning we found her laying on the carpet in the dining room and was unable to get up and go outside. After letting her rest for a few hours, I gave her some bread to eat and she got up. She was wobbly so I scooped her up and took her outside to go to the bathroom. She managed to remain standing for a few minutes, but was back down quickly. Her back legs did not want to support her even though she was trying to walk. By this point, she had begin to cry so I called the vet and they said to bring her in for an evaluation. My kids and I tearfully wrapped her up in a blanket and drove to the vet. It seemed as if we were sitting in the waiting room forever. The vet told me that her heart, eye function, and lungs were great - also taking into consideration her age of 15! The problem seemed to be FCE - firocartilanginous embolism: w

Gifts we have to give

So often people will think of the areas of life that they fall short or what may need some improvement. I think there is some wisdom in knowing where we need some work as humans, but I also feel it is equally important to learn, foster and use the gifts each one of us are instilled with. So here is the challenge or question that I'd like to present: "What gift(s) has God given to you that can be used in the care and ministry of loving others?" How have you seen that gift used in the past? How would you like to use it? If you dream big and I dream big together - how could God work in that big pool of gifts in the lives of others??? Let's share our gifts today and dream of what they can accomplish for God's purpose! 1 Peter 4:8-10 (New International Version) 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,

Uphill idealist

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