Time to get back on the blogging horse. (I'm not a cowboy; can someone give me a better - ie. non-cowboy - metaphor for that?)

I've been thinking a lot about vocation lately. I was working on submitting a short video on the concept for an online conference, and ran out of time (by not getting it right the first 8 times, and didn't have time for a 9th.). But it's been on my mind since then...

Vocation is the concept that every Christian has different "stations in life" (to use Martin Luther's phrase), and that each one is truly a calling from God. Often we use the term to mean "a profession", especially in church work. But it's so much more than that. Yes, a profession is a vocation. But it's only one. So I'm "called" as the Director of Worship and Discipleship at Concordia Lutheran Church. I've got a formal "call" through the church to be in that position. That is a vocation for me.

But I'm also a husband, father, son, uncle, board member, colleague, friend, etc. And having a good sense of vocation means that I am called by God to each of these roles. And in those roles, it is my opportunity to serve others as Jesus served (and serves) me.

Another of Luther's understandings was that God doesn't need our good works (even though we like to think He does...(my editorial comment)), but our neighbour does. So vocation is the approach we take so that we fulfill our calling to serve our neighbours. It is faith that reaches out to God, and it is love that reaches out to our neighbours.

There are a whole host of implications to this in the Christian church. One primary one is that there is a clear sense of role within formal church leadership. Not hierarchy, but role. We are equal under Jesus Christ, but we all have different gifts and different roles to play. So for instance, one role in the vocation of pastor is to preach the Word and deliver to us the Sacraments. And we as non-pastors have the role to receive the Word with thanksgiving and praise. And in worship there are other roles filled - musical leadership, tech leadership, ushering, etc. - but if we have a clear sense of vocation, we aren't concerned about the status, visibility, or perceived importance of each role. We know everyone has a part to play, and we celebrate how all the parts come together for a common purpose.

Another implication is that in a job, a good sense of vocation changes how we may view that job. Think of a teenager in a "McJob". Maybe it's not a job he will be in for very long, and maybe he has dreams of something else. But how would it change him (and even more importantly, others around him) if he approached his job with a clear sense of vocation? That through this job, while he was there, it was an opportunity to serve customers, his boss, and his co-workers?

... but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect...
1 Peter 3:15

Just think of the implications of that! Think of the doors that might be opened for the Gospel if his co-workers were to say to him, "Why do you even care about working at this job? It's just a stupid job." What could his answer be, if he had a clear sense of vocation? Could it be that, even in a McJob, people could see the hope that is in us, and ask us why on earth we are the way we are?

(Of course, there is much more to say about vocation: how it flows from our identity in Christ, not vice versa, and the understanding of the "two kingdoms" - that good works done in our world for our neighbour don't gain us good standing in the kingdom of God. Rather, it's the opposite: our good works happen because we already have good standing in God's kingdom because of Jesus. But those are all discussions for another time.)

You may have run across this video in the last couple weeks: the rapping flight attendant. It's become a YouTube sensation, and it's a fun video to watch. But as I clicked on a related video (the CBS interview with him, posted below also), I heard the "why" behind the "what" - why he came up with this crazy thing. And it struck me: this is a great example of vocation! I don't know if the guy's a Christian or not. But for us as Christians, it's a great example of fulfilling vocation - of working hard, working creatively, and pouring energy into something that will serve others.

Enjoy the videos, and leave some thoughts below about vocation.