Nouwen writes about the downward road of Christ. The natural assumption is a downward road is the easy way. But backpackers know the path downward is not easier than an uphill climb. It just uses different muscles and stresses different joints. Balance is essential on a downward path with everything you have balanced on your back. Focus is critical to avoid ending up off the path and on your backside. On further reflection Nouwen is right to say Christ’s path is a downward road.
At the age of twenty-seven I left my career in the Navy as a nuclear power plant operator with the goal of becoming an attorney. During a law school interview the professor questioned this apparently radical change in course. I explained I felt the law was my “vocation.” In my young mind that meant I saw law as a reliable occupation, a steady good-paying job. I got into law school and got to know that professor well. Lucky for me he thought I meant law was my calling, not just a good way to make a living! The grace is God made it my “uncommon pathway of Christ.”
It is clearly a blessing from God when the work you do is an alignment of where you feel called with what the world needs. Then your occupation truly is your vocation. Then the downward road feels more like the easy way through this life God gives us and the slope is not so hard to balance.
24. For Vocation in Daily Work
Almighty God our heavenly Father, you declare your glory and show forth your handiwork in the heavens and in the earth: Deliver us in our various occupations from the service of self alone, that we may do the work given us to do in truth and beauty and for the common good; for the sake of him who came among us as one who serves, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer, p. 261, Collects: Contemporary
Thanks for this reflection today! It certainly resonated with me for two very clear reasons.
While coming down the trail from the Table Rock summit about three years ago, I lost my balance descending a set of rock stairs, fell, and was hurt pretty badly. In retrospect, this fall could have easily killed me. As you said, it is often much easier to climb than to find that delicate balance as you take the downward path.
Secondly, my chosen work as a psychiatrist, which I definitely view as a calling and vocation more than just a job, teaches me about suffering, humility and being committed to “a life of ongoing formation” every single day. During the pandemic, I have heard enough stories of pain, grief, suffering and loss to last the rest of my career. My patients teach me about resilience, flexibility, creativity and sacrifice. I try to dispense hope as a primary prescription, but in fact they give ME hope for the world in the way that they often do not aspire to amass wealth, power and status, but simply try to live in the service of others, no matter how hard their own trials.
Thank you for directing me to think about these things today.
I agree, if our employment equals our vocation, it’s a good way to make a living! However, I think whatever we do, it’s best when we do it to honor God; it makes me think of the NASA janitor who said he helped men get to the moon, whatever seemingly insignificant work we do it should be for the glory of God, and then it becomes extremely significant.
Thanks for making think through this Ed.