I know Kevin Costner is not everyone’s favorite actor. He’s not mine but he is one of my favorites. I loved his 2006 movie The Guardian. It was about a high school swim champ with a troubled past who enrolls in the Coast Guard’s “A” school where Costner’s character, Ben Randall, is an instructor with a nagging injury that came as a result of hanging on to another rescuer. I wrote the following quote down awhile back. I thought it applied well to Labor Day.
If by some miracle you actually have what it takes to become one of us, then you get to live a life of meager pay with the distinct possibility of dying slow, cold, and alone somewhere in the vast sea. However, you also get the chance to save lives and there is no greater calling in the world than that.
We all have a calling. Some seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things. But none are. It does not matter what you do, do it well. “For each the real purpose for us being here is personal and passionate: to know what we are here to do, and why.” (Os Guinness- The Calling-page 3)
I hope you know why you are here. We celebrate Labor Day. Do what you are called to do…and do it well.
Amen, Bill!
May we do what God is calling us to do with conviction and to the best of our ability.
Blessings!
Well said Martha.
i will have to check out this movie. Your comment remind me of Colossians 3:23: “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. “
i was actually going to throw that verse in but decided not to since the post had already gone longer than i wanted. thanks for adding it Pam.
I was thinking of the same scripture a Pam since God has been dealing with me on pleasing people. Good post brother.
Thanks Betty. It is a good verse to live by.
How do you know what you are called to do?
Good question Jeff. I think some of it is tied to passion and what someone likes to do. Being stuck in a dead end job is no fun. But doing what you are excited about doing and/or enjoy it speaks volumes. I have tried to see myself doing something else with the same passion and fervor I have as a pastor and I don’t see it.
I agree dead end jobs are no fun. In asking the question I was thinking of a high school or college age person and the confusing times they are in. I think suggesting God is calling only adds confusion. God never really calls. At least he never called me.
in response to your thought: As a follower of Christ I do believe God has called me to what I am doing. However, it doesn’t take one to be a follower to be “called” to do something. We have several college students who feel “called” to engineering or pharmacy or some other field. I say “go for it” but as you go “do it well.” It is trite but spot on when I say, “Be the best you can be whatever it is.”
I think one of the disservice see do people is making our calling from God to be some mystical experience that only a few have. In truth, we, who believe, are all called. God wires us all differently naturally, then I believe we get a special wiring when we come into a relationship with him. For example, I would never naturally have ever had any desire to proclaim and teach. Yet, for some reason after I came to know Him, I love teaching and preaching. Other people have a unique ability to do other things. It’s all about finding your part of being in the Body.
When you believe in supernatural things then everything becomes mystical. To think you are specially wired, and I am not, because I do not have and do not want a relationship with an invisible friend, is very confusing to a lot of young people. I suggest young people forget the magical mystical world of the supernatural and just concentrate on what they like and what they find comes easy for them, whatever it is. If you wait for a calling you will wait forever.
Because I come from Larry’s perspective as a person of faith, I understand what He is saying. But I also understand that even those who don’t follow Christ (or you put it the supernatural) still have this natural “bent” for some things. It can be a mechanic, an engineer, a construction guy, whatever. No matter what his “faith” perspective is, he still needs to “do it well” especially if he is working on my truck or building my house.
Absolutely. I have never seen anyone who had came to know the Lord and suddenly knew how to be a mechanic. What I really mean is that we have created this dichotomy of people who are called and who are not. That is not found in the Bible. Some people are called to preach, while others are called to serve in other ways. We have created a lot of angst in people in how we have approached things.
I guess I don’t know what you mean by called. What is the process for calling someone to do whatever?
What could be more joyful than embracing our calling, not apologizing for our giftedness, and sharing the love of God through whatever means He’s given.
Thanks for your post, Bill …
I agree Linda and you stated it well with the words “not apologizing for our giftedness.” However, He has gifted us we are to serve.