From the Desk of Pastor Craig

I've been asked about if and where I vacationed this summer.  The answers are, "Yes," and "Rhode Island" (for my nephew's wedding) and "Florida" to visit my brother.  I've heard where many of you vacationed, too.  I've even heard that some of us didn't go on vacation for a number of reasons:

• We couldn't afford it.

• I'm retired.  I'm always on vacation.

• I'm not working, right now.

• I couldn't take the time off, right now.

Those are all answers to the question, "Why not?"

I know I'm "wired up a little differently" but it got me thinking.  It seems to me no one asks, "Why do you go on vacation?"  It's as if the why of taking a vacation is so obvious or understood that it's silly to ask.  Okay, I'm silly.  Let me ask...and ask for a deeper answer than, "Because I can."

And, it's not a rhetorical question, either.  I know people take vacations because they've always wanted to see/go to a particular place, do a certain thing, visit friends or relatives somewhere.  But, I'm wondering about the purpose of a vacation.  By the way, by definition, a "stay-cation" - spending one's accrued vacation time at home, is NOT a vacation.  One needs to vacate - leave - someplace.  No vacating home or work or school = no vacation.

Why do I ask?  It has to do with vocation.  Our vocations - literally, our "callings" - are what God intends for us to do with our lives, our entire lives.  We all have jobs, most of us have hundreds of jobs - even if your job is to go to be a student and even if your job doesn't earn you money.  Some of my jobs include setting up the coffee-maker, making the bed, shopping, cleaning out the garage, balancing the checkbook, along with preaching, teaching, attending meetings, etc.  I bet you could name a hundred you do pretty quickly.  Jobs are tasks.  Some result in earning a wage or salary.  That's not the same as a vocation.

Let me put it this way:  You can quit your job... You can't quit your vocation... Because God is the one who issues vocations... callings.  When Jesus called his disciples (see Matthew 4: 18ff), he gave them more than a job.  Yes, he said, "I will make you fishers of men," but that was the task he would have them doing.  Following Jesus is a vocation, not a job.  Now when God says, "Follow me." is that an invitation or an order?

My point?  By the time you read this, it will probably be around labor Day.  Curiously, many of us will be taking time off from our usual labor.  many will be away on vacation.  But none of us ought to be taking time off from our vocation... to e disciples, followers of Jesus.

Truth be told, while I have a lot of faith in God, I confess that I am not very faithful to God.  Yes, I trust God to get me and the world through whatever we're going to face.  I do a lousy job of being faithful to my vocation, my calling to be a follower of Jesus.  yes, I do my job.  I don't remember the last time I "called in sick."

But, as far as being faithful to the calling to love the Lord my God with all my being and my neighbor as myself?  I would be convicted of being AWOL on that one more often than not.

Fortunately, my - and your - future doesn't't depend on how well we live out our callings... or even how well we do our jobs.  It has to do with how gracious God is in calling us... again and again and again.  And, have you noticed?  When God calls people... God always gifts them with everything they need to answer the call - and blessings beyond measure on top of that.

Almost all the time, I really like my job (I'm not so fond of marriange counseling and funerals).  But, I have come to LOVE my vocation... because it's from God.  you, too?