A mighty felicity

Scottish mystic Henry Scougal (1650-1678), author of the spiritual classic The Life God in the Soul of Man included the following prayer in that work:

“Good God! What a mighty felicity this is to which we are called! How graciously hast thou joined our duty and happiness together, and prescribed that for our work the performance whereof is a great reward!”

I’ve long discerned an interesting contrast of perspectives among those who have a sense of calling and Christian vocation and those whose orientation toward work is more a matter of commerce and personal gain. Among the former ministry is its own reward, whether one is called to full time Christian ministry within mother Church, or engaging in ministry through vocation in the marketplace. Thank God for Christian doctors, lawyers, engineers, technicians, teachers, police officers, tradesmen, contractors, and car salespersons. For them, work is ministry regardless of the context or craft. And by and large they find it a “mighty felicity” that gives meaning to work if not to the toil that it may require. More often than not, those of us in congregational ministry may end the week saying to ourselves, “I can’t believe they pay me to do this!” (But don’t tell that to the budget committee).

I’m consistently proud of our BTSR graduates and every year I am amazed at the number of students who continue to answer God’s call to service, and, at the variety of places they are called to serve. Among those in the class of 2009 there are the following:

(2) Music directors
(6) Pastors
(12) Associate Pastors or Ministry Staff
(5) Non-profit Organization Staff
(4) Chaplains
(2) Teachers
(2) Counselors
(2) Missionaries.

I pray for each of our BTSR graduates (well over 500 strong now) a mighty felicity as they pursue to work out God’s calling in their vocations.

Creepy art for today.