Here at Indiana Wesleyan, the university requires a class called “World Changers.” Every student seems to have a different opinion of the class. It hasn’t been awful so far, and we’re talking about a lot of deep questions. I really, really like deep questions.

Today in class we were covering the 4 Life Questions (more on those at some point in the future). In talking about what we’re called to do in life, my prof (Brad Garner) quoted theologian Frederick Buechner:

True vocation is the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.

That quote really set off a firestorm of thoughts in my head. Too often we refer to our job as our vocation. It’s not. Our vocation is the thing that deeply satisfies us in Christ while working to fulfill the needs of the world. We can look at great figures in missions and the church and see this, yes. But look at more than that. Look at businessmen and women changing the world they’re in. Video editors. Secretaries. Waitresses. Firefighters. Teachers. Factory workers. Every single one of them can do something to meet the world’s needs from their place of work.

Additionally, it made me think of something else. For many, their job and their vocation are not the same. The youth pastor at my church worked for many years as a mattress salesman while working only part-time for the church. Mattress salesman was his job. Ministry was his vocation. Every Christian has to have a job. We also have to have a vocation. And the greatest thing in the world for God is finding where the two concepts converge in our lives everyday.

What are your thoughts?

And no, in this case I’m not talking about God. I’m talking about the Jimmy Dean commercials with the sunshine character in them. Very funny commercials, yes, but I digress.

Here’s the real reason why I’m mentioning him. Over the course of this blog, you’ll learn that I really like quotes from various people. Correction, I really LOVE quotes. But here’s a quote from Jimmy Dean, the man behind the sunshine (Not made in reference to ministry, but still applicable):
“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”

Ministry many times may seem ineffective. A few years ago, the “culture winds” were blowing one way, and so you adjusted your sails. But have you adjusted your sails recently, or on a regular basis?