Passion

How is making tacos God’s work? God is pleased when we service others, which ignites passion deep within our hearts.

Everyone who knows me knows my favorite fast-food restaurant. Bonnie, who works there, makes tacos, serves tacos, and, when I pull up to the window, she says, “I already know what you want. Just pull up.”

A New Position

In the early church, we learn that the number of disciples was increasing, causing the Hellenistic Jews to complain that their widows were being overlooked in the daily food distribution in favor of the Hebraic Jews. (Notice that the church was only serving Jews at this point in time.) This conflict resulted in the creation of a new position in the church: deacon (Acts 6: 2-3).

The new position was a service position. Philip, chosen to be one of the first deacons, started his vocation as a server.

So, what is vocation? Vocation is most commonly named as a job, profession, or career. However, I like author Frederick Buechner’s beautiful definition of vocation: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” 

Vocation

The example of Philip illustrates this collision of great hunger and deep gladness. Philip’s commission was to be a deacon or server, like serving tacos. I can imagine that Philip brought gladness to his job, knowing that it was an important one. 

Vocation describes not only the work we do, but also what we feel most passionate about.. Sometimes, vocation may come to us as we are called to do the unexpected. Circumstance may lead us to recognize great hunger in our world or a well-spring of our own deep gladness. Where these two forces meet, we find the greatest passion.

Passion at Work

It is easy for us to praise our heroes, but we ought also to recognize the work of the librarian, teacher, social worker, town planner, minister, nurse, doctor, business person, as well as in the farm worker who picks our food, the trucker who brings it to our town, and the server who makes and brings us our food.  

We are all called to service as the body of Christ inside and outside the four walls of the church building.  Ask yourself these four vocational questions:

• Is this the place I belong? (Then affirm it.)
• Who has my heart? (Our call must be ordered by God.)
• What can I offer? (Do you have a surprising gift to offer?)
• What do I want to do? (God will put joy in your heart for what he wants you to do.)

If you cannot answer these questions with deep gladness, then, I challenge you to begin a new journey. Pray and ask God for the answers. They may require you to do some exploration, get some training, or take a risk. Ask that God shows you the first step and gives you the courage to take it. I know that God will answer. He did in my life. Today, I pray for passion as you prepare to meet the world’s deepest hunger.

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Mark 9:35

Copyright 2019 Chuck Locklear

Also, see Joy and Gratitude.