A Sense of Vocation

1993-01-16·Sermon

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ATLANTA
JANUARY” 16;~1993
10:00 a.m.
THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH IS AN URBAN
SETTING

A SENSE OF VOCATION

JOHN M. BUCHANAN

FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHICAGO,

| GOOD TO BE IN AtLANTA,| ALTHOUGH I
—— a

NEED TO BE CANDID ABOUT THE FACT THAT IN
Sarg

THE AREA OF MY LIFE-LONG LOVE AFFAIR

WITH BASEBALL, ATLANTA HAS RECENTLY

BECOME ENEMY TERRITORY.

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY LAST_YISIT
a ll

nene.\ Ir WAS OCTOBER u4,\ I WAS HERE TO

DELIVER A STEWARDSHIP SPEECH AT
“Triaiky ----- curcu.\ Octoser 14, IN CASE

YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN, IS THE NIGHT THE
BRAVES WON THE NATIONAL LEAGUE PENNANT.

Now, I am A CuHIcaGo CuBS FAN BECAUSE
SSS

THEY ARE OUR ream aN WRIGLEY FIELD IS
Serra
ONLY TEN MINUTES AWAY BY SUBWAY AND
—e ee re SS
THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO BE ON A WARM
JUNE sarunay.\\ BuT BEFORE I was aA Cuss
—
FAN, I WAS A PITTSBURGH PIRATES FAN -
SS
FROM WAY pack | I CAN TAKE YOU AROUND THE
NS iT
1948 INFIELD, WHICH LED THE NATIONAL
| jeans

LEAGUE IN DOUBLE PLAYS - Hore MURTAUGH,

ROJEK GustzMe.\\ Tose 'Haev"eERR THE
BRAVES WERE IN BOSTON{(AND “THE YEAR THEY

LOST THE WorRLD SERIES TO THE CLEVELAND
aR =

INDIANS -|"SPAHN AND SAIN AND PRAY FOR
RAIN." | I DIGRESS - BUT IT I METHING

OF A HABIT WITH THE FRANCHISE. ¥ I AM o=

DOWN DEEP - WHERE I LOVE GOD AND MY WIFE
wes ae
- A PIRATES ran.\ So on OctosBer 14, I
eel se: el
WAS A GUEST IN THE HOME OF A VERY EN-
———aa

THUSTASTIC BRAVES FAN AND AS YOU MAY

RECALL THE PIRATES WERE COMFORTABLY

AHEAD GOING INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE

NINTH\) Met I WAS SITTING IN MY HOST'S

CGeee

EASY CHAIR RATHER ENJOYING MYSELF,

Lee]

TRYING NOT TO. GLOAT,\ AND HE WAS_SUFFER-
ING, SILENTLY AND eracrousy. \ AND THEN

‘SUDDENLY, IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH IT

inher ni etd

CAME UNRAVELED AND WITH TWO OUT AND AN

UNLIKELY, UNKNOWN PINCH HITTER AT BAT,

—_—

THE BRAVES SUDDENLY, DRAMATICALLY, WON

THE GAME AND THE PENNANT AND iT WAS, I

CAN SAY, ONE OF THE MOST TERRIBLE MO-

—_ nal

MENTS IN MY ure. \\Wogse, ver, BEING A

GUEST IN A BRAVES FAN'S HOME AND A
CLERGYPERSON AT THAT, I COULD NOT BEGIN

TO SAY THE WORDS THAT WERE SUGGESTING
4s ZX PRS sv om
THEMSELVES THE ONLY APPROPRIATE
—- ett

AT THE MOMENT.

[pow \all

AND_NQW, YOU nave or BEST CATCHER ~ “eet
4 a bowK =
AND OUR BEST PITCHER WHO iS ALSO THE L____—

BEST PITCHER CURRENTLY PLAYING THE GAME

AND ONE OF THE VERY FEW AND INCREASINGLY

SPARSE BONAFIDE MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYERS

Die]

The leawt ye Cort
WORKING FOR THE CuBs. | SO, PLEASE DO WIN
IT ALL THIS YEAR.
I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE ON GEORGE
ae

WIRTH'S HOME rure.\ HE IS, AS YOU KNOW,

ct a rer eet

A GOOD ONE.\ HE IS ARTICULATE, ENERGET-
ey

Ic, ONE OF THE COLLEAGUES WHO MAKES ME Hes ale & [ithe

PROUD TO BE A PRESBYTERIAN. AnD I'M tna oh. FF
cluic PLEASED TO BE HERE IN DOWNTOWN aTuAWPa eh Bhi
bret DOWNTOWN ATLARTA,| cau dank

city Chr A
T I REGARD AS A CRITICAL OUTPOST Ss:

prey i 7 | OF CHRISTIAN MISSION, EVERY BIT AS VITAL Ca
liv?

—_ | = 5 Sa
wrt “Tae - AS WERE THOSE LONELY MISSIONARY HOSPI Ga. *
iA ub TALS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES ON THE FRONTIER Se ae eae ff
ae y oH ., — a
yoak )- - OR OVERSEAS A CENTURY AGO, THE MODERN
(ye Pe sank AMERICAN CITY.
yo
vrs? — I THINK A LOT OF THE FUTURE OF THE
eRe OR of CWriak
nN cow yt cianitiie Muémenatenead IN AMERICA WILL BE
ye ~~
vo w ow 8 DETERMINED BY WHAT HAPPENS IN MISSIONARY

Aho a pron OUTPOSTS LIKE THIS ONE. | ano I HAVE AN

at | EVEN STRONGER SENSE THAT WHAT HAPPENS IN
a& f =.
wy
~ we THE FUTURE OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
bb? ue

(U.S.A.) IS BEING DETERMINED BY TH

oryersa.ce A oe. AK

cequards souk We Yu w_Gaayeb -
6 “a— “his Soar sale me nal 7
Wun — gecess— \__ UnsArecdivs - Naps es ;
a cold Dte~ ~ Syrad- \Yumre wath fr Yvon Ber me AER

PREACHING, WORSHIP, EDUCATION AND MIS-

mm ll mee ce

SION OUTREACH OF URBAN CONGREGATIONS IN

THE HEART OF AMERICA’S CITIES, AS THE

20TH CENTURY COMES TO AN END. o Cee Broil

GEORGE TOLD ME THAT THE THEME FIRST
Se

CHURCH ATLANTA HAS ADOPTED FOR THE YEAR

1s (“THE ComMUNITY_OF FAITH" AND ASKED ME

TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT EMPHASIS AS I

PREPARED MY REMARKS.

AND SO FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS I WILL

BE prscussine ("THe COMMUNITY OF FAITH IN

; fi
AN URBAN SETTING; \THI Voc2torn
Clwure’
CHurcHy) AND TOMORROW MORNING, "A SENSE Comuus by

OF THE COMMUNITY."

BEING THE CHURCH IN THE CITY IS NO
EE

SIMPLE MATTER. \ IT NEVER HAS peen. | THE

EARLIEST CHURCHES IN PLACES WITH NAMES
eel

LIKE EPHESUS, PHILIPPE, ANTIOCH, ROME -

TO WHOM AND ABOUT WHOM ST. PAUL WROTE
el ss:

LETTERS, WERE URBAN CHURCHES WITH URBAN
SS See

—S aw
CHURCH PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES. ¥
i Pa
@®8t TODAY IT IS MORE COMPLICATED

, ne
THAN EVER. \ You KNOW OUR LITANY OF
| ed

LAMENTS.

=——

PARKING - IT IS SIMPLY ASSUMED THAT
Cle

YOU CAN'T HAVE CHURCH GROWTH WITHOUT

PARKING. | nan URBAN CHURCHES HAVE NONE,

MINE AMONG THEM. \ WE HAVE A_25 CAR LOT
SSS a

eee

WHICH IS A CURSE - A SOURCE OF ENDLESS
CONFLICT AND unnarews&E, | PEOPLE WHO
ae

COME TO FouRTH CHURCH HAVE TO FIGURE IT
QUT WITHOUT A SPACIOUS LOT\ THOSE HUGE,

SUBURBAN MEGA CHURCHES BY WHICH WE LIKE
eer eae] ‘
ren (low GE

TO MEASURE OURSELVES = HAVE MORE AND Co uss, =
er, AJ

BETTER PARKING THAN O'HARE FIELD, COM-

PLETE WITH UNIFORMED GUARDS AND SHUTTLE

men

dunt fahy pues
UA plurt ob
year - hot
AND SECURITY - OUR SECRET. \ PURSES

eee

ARE TAKEN - SO ARE FUR coats. | At FOURTH

CHURCH SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS ONCE

A WEEK.

New
AND THE Qh) HOMELESS AND ADDICTED WALK~

ING THE STREETS OF OUR CITY: | PEOPLE WHO

USED TO BE PATIENTS IN STATE HOSPITALS
ee |

OR RESIDENTS OF LOCAL BUT NOW LARGELY

——,

NON-EXISTENT SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY

ROOMING HOUSES - WHO TURN TO THE CHURCH

AS A LAST AND ONLY REFUGE AND WHO SCARE ‘

en
OTHER PEOPLE TO DEATH. ~

URBAN CHURCHES, IF THEY ASPIRE TO
BE "COMMUNITIES OF FAITH," AS YOU HAVE
eS eS SS

DONE, HAVE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS \ OFTEN

THEY DON'T LIVE IM.A.PARISH, A NEIGHBOR-
Oy

HOOD, BUT INSTEAD IN THE MIDST OF

WAREHOUSES,\\ FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS,

See

HOTELS AND DEPARTMENT STORES. SOMETIMES

——

NOBODY LIVES AROUND THE CHURCH. \ttavead-y,

+ THE REVERSE IS THE CASE FOR FOURTH
CHURCH. | QUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS ARE THE
mnie ape
Four SEASONS | RITZ Cartton, |THE WESTIN,
bieiicicaiemeeinde Be —
BLOOMINGDALE’S, Lorp & TAYLOR, MARSHALL
ee
FIELD®-/ AND OVER AND JUST BEHIND THEM
= ea ==
Live 70,000 PEOPLE AND SO IN A CURIOUS
ey 9

TWIST, WE ARE A NEW KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD

cnuncn.) | TrexcaLcy, HOWEVER, THE PEOPLE

ett

WHO USED TO LIVE THERE DON’T ANY_LONGER.
— LL

NO YOUNGSTERS RIDE A BIKE TO BELL_CHOIR

pRacT3ce. | THE CHURCH IS NOT THE CENTER
eee

OF AN IDENTIFIABLE, DEFINABLE SPACE

eee

CALLED PARISH.

AND ern IF NOT MANY
PEOPLE, — | Some, I
THINK, PRE T.\ Some choose 7 CHOOSE IT BY

verautt. | But, IN FACT, YOU CAN SIT IN
ee

Sar

WORSHIP IN AN URBAN CHURCH FOR YEARS
———EEa——| 0 BE

WITHOUT SPEAKING TO A SOUL, OR BEING

NOTICED BY A SOUL, AND RATHER LIKE IT
Se. aol

THAT ant DO NOT HAVE THE ALTERNATIVE

EEE Ee

OF DROPPING IN ON MY MEMBERS FOR A
Pc Oe

VISIT. \ You HAVE TO HAVE AN_APPOINTMENT

TO GET PAST THE DOORMAN\ AND NOW -

——
ANOTHER TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCE - ANSWER-
beet ee |
ING MACHINES MEAN THAT I CAN'T EVEN TALK

ee =

TO THEM ON THE TELEPHONE, 9 > | OF

AND THE ABSENCE OF FAMILIES

AFE..FHE PAMILIES WITH

IS SIMPLY/NOT }
J

THERE'S MUCH MORE. | usr KEEPING AN
. ee]
URBAN ,CHURCH CLEAN IS A MAJOR PROJECT.
eal Lien |

I THINK OF IT EVERY TIME I VISIT ONE OF

THOSE SPLENDID NEW SUBURBAN CHURCHES

WITH MANICURED LAWN, HIGHLY POLISHED

FLOOR, SPARKING GLASS. WE, ON THE OTHER

2N
HAND, ARE THE 2AORGE Nr rty FOR THE

HOMELESS MEN AND WOMEN ON THE STREET.
——e,
IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO ENCOUNTER A MAN
Gero | meena!

BATHING IN THE SINK OF THE MEN'S room, |

NOR TO FIND THE REMAINS OF AN ITALIAN
(See. a
BEEF SANDWICH AND COKE ON A PEW IN THE
[eS

SANCTUARY.

WE COULD CONTINUE THIS RECLTAL
INDEFINITELY, OF COURSE.

[ay
May I PROPOSE, HOWEVER, THAT EVERY-
Ge

ONE OF THOSE COMPLICATING FACTORS BE-

COMES A POTENTIAL FOR FAITHFUL AND

CREATIVE MINISTRY AND THEREFORE A POSSI-

BLE_STRENGTH.
en,

— —_.. A FEW FOR INSTANCES:
al

WITH NO DEFINED, IDENTIFIABLE
——E

PARISH, A CITY CHURCH IS OFTEN A CHURCH
—< a Co

FOR THE WHOLE CITY» | A PLACE WHERE, IN
eee ee
10

(* Cluck

Cow"

= Word

JOHN WESLEY'S MEMORABLE IMAGE, THE_WORLD

— Face. |

vo
IS THE PARISH. I THINK THAT'S A
=e

STRENGTH, \ IF WE MUST LEARN TO LIVE

WITHOUT THE EASY INTIMACY AND COZINESS
——

Sao | am

OF SUBURBAN OR NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCHES, WE

CAN EXHIBIT A ro. EXHTLARATING
ad

WORLDLINESS WHICH IS ALSO A FAITHFUL AND
| ed Gat al

NECESSARY WITNESS. [os FACT, I WOULD
ee
FIND IT CONSTRAINING NOT 70 BE IN A
P ERE THE CHURCH AND WORLD
LACE WH iD WOE DEE
INTERFACE AND CONFRONT HONESTLY AND
DRAMATICALLY.
AND THE ANONYMITY OF CITY LIFE
See
WHICH ALLOWS A PERSON TO WORSHIP ALONE
ess reer TE

FOR YEARS, | ALSO/IS A COMPELLING FACTOR

———?

FOR MANY TO COME IN THE_FIRST PLACE.
—— ae

THIS Is suertt,\ THEY MAY NOT WANT TO

EXCHANGE THE KISS OF peace, | THEY MAY NOT
WANT TO GET INVOLVED, BUT, AT THE SAME
ne

TIME, THEY ARE THERE OUT OF A NEED FOR
ms Bt

COMMUNITY - FOR COMPANY - FOR CONTACT.
Ee

Pee, Sy

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FALL TERM,
I ASKED A NEW SESSION TO SPEND A FEW
SS
" ge MINUTES GETTING ACQUAINTED. / ANOTHER
~~ a
tim
. ECCENTRICITY OF THE CITY cnunct EVENING

con de |
esto eer a MEETINGS ARE NOT CONVENIENT. r-| Bes SES-
Cc

yu L & \ Orde SION MEETS ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT 4:30

pie

4 _—
wer sf:
* \ wey P.M. - NEVER FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS -
Os”.

’ 3
glue poem od wv SO THERE ISN’T MUCH TIME FOR SMALL TALK.
, (nine

ya — i
r Wit =
w= - So I ASKED THEM TO GO AROUND THE TABLE
qa
wo a AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND TELL A BIT
ae yer ABOUT HOW THEY FIRST CAME TO FOURTH
4\o" \ wi CHURCH |AND WHAT COMING BACK.
—.—_
gw AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER WE COMPLETED
« ee | es
we THE PROCESS AND THEY TOLD A REMARKABLE

STORY. | THEY HAD COME AT FIRST FOR A

VARIETY OF REASONS t eur THIS IS A

ee eae TD

SUMMARY OF THE MOST COMMON RESPONSES:
Wee

"I WAS NEW TO_THECET¥—- HADN'T BEEN

INSIDE A_CHURCH FOR vEARS\{ FOUND MYSELF
Paleocene |
WONDERING WHAT WENT ON IN THERE - FINAL-

LY ACCEPTED A FRIEND'S INVITATION TO

—

ATTEND - SAT IN THE BALCONY FOR TWO

[el

YEARS WITHOUT SPEAKING TO ANYONE -[uaxeo

Soe

THE MUSIC AND PREACHING -[orow” T WANT TO
-_ — eee

GET INVOLVED SOMEONE ASKED ME TO DO
eal

——

SOMETHING - I SAID YES AND HERE I am."

AND WHY THEY KEEP coumne H atnosr TO A
al

PERSON "IT'S MY FAMILY - IT’S WHERE
lies

THERE ARE PEOPLE I CARE ABouT.\ "LT IS

MY COMMUNITY OF FAITH." “== reo

ANQ THEN ABOUT FAMILIES AND

\\ TWO OBSERVATIONS:

CHILDREN

1s ARE STAYING yd CITY -

ALTERNATIVE ON Sono on\ Pe THE VERY
REASON THAT qAerR pay Late IN

SUBURBIA spk DAYS A WEEK \AND NEED A

LITTLE RACIAL AND CULTURAL*
Py

f# AND So, WE'RE GROWKNG OUT OF

pEVERSITY.

sti

our ovearzonat SPACE AND OUR NURSERY IS

SERIOUSLY RCRt DA "RE TIz-
ING sax Ne MONTH.
Tis PA StYte oF COMMUNITY { A BLESSED
—_—_— ——— "We

FELLOWSHIP OF PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT KNOW
SSS

ONE ANOTHER INTIMATELY,\ BUT WHO NEVER-
SSS

THELESS CARE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER AND ARE
TRYING TO DISCOVER WHAT IT MEANS._TO LOVE
is '
ONE ANOTHER. IT OCCURS TO ME THAT THIS
—
IS WHAT CITY CHURCHES ARE ABOUT AND IT

—

IS WHY WE MUST REMAIN.

I SAW A PICTURE RECENTLY LOOKING

DOWN MICHIGAN AVENUE IN 1914, THE YEAR

FOURTH CHURCH WAS BUILT. \ THE STEEPLE IS

SStene

THE HIGHEST STRUCTURE AROUND - THE
js ee,

CHURCH DOMINATES THE INTERSECTION AND IS

VISIBLE FROM ALL DIRECTIONS. \r IS A

PICTURE NOT UNLIKE THE RELATIONSHIP OF
Wee

CHURCH TO CITY FOR A THOUSAND YEARS -
Coed

THE SOARING STEEPLE LIFTING EYES AND

HEARTS TO THE HEAVENS: \ tHE CATHEDRAL AT

THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY.
el

Com fas)

TODAY, RELATIVELY RECENTLY, THAT
=, 7 er)

PICTURE IS NOT ONLY DIFFERENT, IT IS

TorALLY CFAVERTEDD \ Topay THE CHURCH IS
Sse

SURROUNDED ON FOUR SIDES BY TOWERS OF
oe

— an
BUSINESS AND COMMERCE.\ AND THE ONLY
— eee

PERSPECTIVE FROM WHICH TO SEE IT ALL IS

FROM THE 95TH FLOOR OF THE JOHN HANCOCK

BUILDING. \\trere, IN MINIATURE, LIKE A
nf

TINY, PRECIOUS JEWEL, IS THE CHURCH -

NEVER MORE CLEARLY A REMINDER TO THE
a ni)

WORLD OF ANOTHER DIMENSION;| A SIGN AND
Se
SYMBOL OF THE HOLY AND OF THE NATURE OF

THE HUMAN.

A MAJOR PART OF OUR MISSION, AS
COMMUNITIES OF FAITH IN THE CITY IS TO
See,
ASK THE HUMAN avesrzons: | THE MEANING

sq
AND PURPOSE OF LIFE QuesrroN$-) THE WHAT
——eee

if Q&A
IS IT ALL_ABOUT AND WHAT AM I GOING TO

DO WHEN I Grow Tr0ns% UNIVERSAL
; NIVEF

a ,

HUMAN auestzons\ Bur I DO SENSE THEY ARE

ASKED PARTICULARLY PP

ely

OVER THE YEARS I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT IT
WHAT > aay paw,
IS ASW@RD WE HAVE TO OFFER” IT IS ‘PRE os, -

See
fu yz FOUNDATION OF OUR COMMUNITY AND AT THE

HEART OF OUR PASTORAL MINISTRY. Jr Is e very aps
OUR SENSE OF V catron. Gomme iG ne ie

VOCATION WEBSTER SAYS, MEANS yt €

W Li
SUMMONS. T'S FROM THE LATIN VOCATUS 4.4
WW W
VOCARE IS THE VERB ("TO CALL. “VOCAL é pur pro war
- VOICE - VOCATION \ to HAVE A VOCATION kersects w(
= Sabre We

C0 NAih
IS TO BE SUMMONED - TO HEAR A VOICE - TO a

HAVE A CALL. \ so FAR SO GOOD. wa, Yu dw
ee =<
THEN WEBSTER REFLECTS THE BIGGEST wast slevad
a) ;

idec S|
THEOLOGICAL ERROR IN THE HISTORY OF .
ee

CHRISTRANDOM ("™ ENTRY - INTO THE
mop
PRIESTHOOD OR RELIGIOUS onbér.” \

FINALLY WEBSTER RETURNS TO THE

—-

POINT "A VOCATION IS THE WORK IN WHICH

A PERSON IS REGULARLY EMPLOYED."
me, *
BUT DEFINITION NUMBER TWO CONTAINS

VERY IMPORTANT THEOLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS -
Ss

RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONALS HEAR VOICES
SS Saas

CALLING THEM TO THEIR “vocarzons, | WHILE
|

ALL THE REST SIMPLY DO WHATEVER PUTS
es

BREAD_AND-BUTTER ON THE TABLE?
\ an Ou RADITION HAS A RADICAL, IMPOR-
De \ TANT AND REDEEMING WORD TO SAY ON THE

Yaad ne
(Arr Topic... MMe, — 4
But rxnst)\ BexbaNe WHAT TO DO WHEN

YOU GROW UP IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT USED
os
TO BE.

TIME WAS WHEN YOU HAD TO_KNOW WHAT

Si
YOU WANTED TO_DO_IN HIGH scoot. | WHEN I

WENT TO COLLEGE, PEOPLE IN THE BLUE-
el

LLAR TOWN askew "BHY? | waz DO Y
co ba T DO ou

WANT TO p0?"| L5 tuo REASON TO GO TO
| re —

COLLEGE WAS TO ACQUIRE MARKETABLE SKILLS

IN A VOCATION YOU HAD ALREADY CHOSEN, AT
eee

(Gee ey

THE WISE OLD AGE OF SEVENTEEN.

AND THEN YOU GRADUATED AT 21 )

AND IF UNCLE Sam DIDN'T NEED YOUR SERV-

ICES, YOU EITHER START G WHAT YOU

HAVE PREPARED TO DO; TEACH SCHOOL, FOR
a ——e

INSTANCE, OR YOU ENTERED GRAD SCHOOL FOR
—e el

A FEW MORE YEARS AND BEGAN DOING "IT" AT

24 or 25.

THINK OF THE REVOLUTION IN OUR
magne

CULTURE IN vocatzon. \ IT IS NOW STANDARD
a ‘

FOR KIDS TO GRADUATE, \come HOME

our, ")AND DECIDE WHAT TO DO NEXT.
eee

THEN FOR THREE OR FOUR YEARS TO AGONIZE.

MANY PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS DON’T REALLY

Ww \

WANT THEM UNTIL THEY HAVE HUNG OUT FOR
es a es

THREE YEARS My YOUNGSTERS HAVE ALL
—_—— oy

DONE IT.\ ON THE TELEPHONE, THEY TELL

a
THEIR FRIENDS ouerted "HANGING OUT." So

THE PUSH OUT OF THE NEST HAS TO HAPPEN

——e rs
AGAIN BUT WITH FINESSE AND GENTLENESS.

nd [ee ee E,
FOR ONE THING, THEY'RE AWFULLY BIG Now!
- ADVANCED PREACHING -

1/2 SECOND carcens: ||Jown NAISBETH AND te
PATRICIA ABURDENE, MEGATRENDS 2000 - =u \* HY

7
THREE CAREER CHANGES \\ TEACHING, HOME-

MAKING, LAW: j/IN MY CRERGA. -
ee

13 CW h—

CAM.
wows

sr ARCHITECTU

BANKING * MERGHANDLS-ENGy—frO COUNFEENG ,
fl tos Cram Drek oy Bree

-fy TRAVEL AGENT. BROKER. UNDERSCORES

-_ a]

SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. / LIFE IS

GROWTH - HUMAN LIFE BECOMING. WE ARE
You wt Se

ALWAYS BECOMING. ("BE PATIENT, Gop ISN'T

DONE WITH ME" - TRUE! WE'RE NOT_SET IN

CONCRETE. \We'RE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING.

PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER AND AUTHOR,
N
FRED BUECHNER, ADDRESSING SEMINARY
a

GRADUATES ONCE ADMITTED THAT AT 50 HE

—— Wee

WAS STILL NOT SURE HE HAD RESOLVED THE
Se

MATTER OF WHAT TO BE WHEN HE GROWS UP.

"PEOPLE READ MY BOOKS, WANT ME TO AUTO-

GRAPH THEM, LISTEN TO ME SPEAK, ASK MY

OPINIONS... IF THEY ONLY KNEW HOW UNSURE
W -

A VOICE’ CAME FROM HEAVEN. ‘YOU ARE MY

SON,/THE BELOVED: WITH YOU I AM WELL

“deo phe (6\ (a a cure ( lool my, Aor “\\L- weal -

Node, fir Cauwren = faces —* cag fe foe

PEEL peanuts ayn thn -Wadle~74e dla cuca Nusa’

PLEASED.’ JESUS WAS ABOUT THIRTY YEARS

‘ OLD WHEN HE BEGAN HIS WORK."
tht BD :
avi bu IN HIS Ma MEMOIR, DEADLINE, FORMER

New YORK TIMES REPORTER, BUREAU CHIEF,

wt EXECUTIVE EDITOR, JAMES RESTON, DE-

SCRIBES THE YOUTHFUL NAIVETE AND HEADY
OPTIMISM OF HIS EARLY LIFE, GROWING UP,
EDUCATED AND WORKING IN THE AMERICAN
MIDWEST.

AND THEN AT THIRIYWHE FOUND HIMSELF

IN LONDON DURING THE BLITZ, |UNDER FIERCE

ATTACK, SEPARATED FROM HIS WIFE AND NEW
mS eS,

BABY, FACED FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH THE

POSSIBILITY OF penta. | HE STILL HAS THE
LETTER HE WROTE THAT NIGHT IN LONDON TO

HIS INFANT SON RICHARD AS BOMBS FELL:

("To YOUR.MOTHER I LEFT EVERYTHING I

———

HAVE, A FEW DOLLARS, A LOT OF BOOKS, AND

THE MEMORIES OF A SHORT AND HAPPY LIFE.

To You, ALAS I LEFT NOTHING..." | taEe
Pp. 93-94]

RESTON WRITES THAT HE WAS GLAD

=.
LATER HIS SON WAS TOO YOUNG TO READ IT.

ba me
But (THIRTY WAS FOR HIM, CLEARLY, A

PIVOTAL AND IMPORTANT TIME.

"JESUS WAS ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OLD,"
Ly

LUKE ADDS AS A POSTSCRIPT TO THE ACCOUNT

OF THE BAPTISM.

ANDREW GREELEY..S RESEARCH INTO

CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUALITY SHOWS THAT

"AROUND THE AGE OF THIRTY SERIOUS PRAYER

BEGINS FOR MANY PEOPLE. \ At AGE THIRTY,
* =a,

WHEN THE ILLUSION THAT WE ARE MASTERS OF

Wl ee

OUR OWN FATE FADES ADULTS DEVELOP A
DEEPER NEED TO CALL ON THE MASTER OF THE
UNIVERSE." / [NEWSWEEK, 1/6/92]
AND SO, AT THE AGE OF THIRTY, A
Ee
YOUNG ADULT FROM NAZARETH SHOWED UP ONE

DAY IN A CROWD OF PEOPLE WHO HAD COME TO
ue ey

THE JORDAN RIVER TO HEAR A STRANGE

PREACHER BY THE NAME OF JOHN.
—_ SS

WHAT DID IT MEAN FOR Jesus?| WHAT
be

WAS HE DOING THERE IN THE CROWD THAT

DAY, LISTENING TO JOHN eet | PERHAPS

HE WAS FREE OF HIS RESPONSIBILITY OF

CARING FOR HIS FAMILY, FREE TO DO WHAT

HE WANTED TO po.\ PERHAPS HE WAS REST-
We ee

LESS, BO | PERHAPS, AS ANDREW GREELEY

SUGGESTS, HE WAS THINKING ABOUT THE

MEANING OF HIS LIFE AND WHAT HE REALLY

BELIEVED AND PERHAPS HE WAS DECIDING

WHAT TO DO WITH THE REST OF_IT.

WALTER BURGHARDT, A JESUIT WHO
ee]

TEACHES AT GEORGETOWN, HAS WRITTEN A
er

BOOK ON THE SEASONS OF LIFE AND SUGGESTS
THAT WHILE WE MAY MAKE_QCCUPATIONAL

DECISIONS, [iene TQ.GO..TO. WORK AND _RELA-

TIQNALDEGESIONS, WHO TO HOOK UP WITH,

LONG BEFORE - PERHAPS IN OUR_20S, OR EVEN
ee

0] EN YEARS - THESE DECISIONS ABOUT

LACE THE WORLD AND PERSONA

ACTUALLY COME LATER, BEGINNING AR

THIRTY, AND IN SOME SENSE CONTINUING FOR
| ree |

Ges
THE RESI_OF OUR LIVES. | [SEASONS THAT

LAUGH OR WEEP, MUSINGS ON THE HUMAN

JOURNEY, P. 33 FF.]

THE SEQUENCE, TO USE JESUS AS AN

8 fee

EXAMPLE, I DECIDING TO LEAVE

ROUTINE AND SECURITY AND GO OUT TO HEAR

WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE RrveR;| ExPERTENCE

- FOR JESUS, THE ACT OF BAPTISM;

DECISION THE COMMITMENT TO A NEW IDEA,
_

A LARGER VISION AND THE COURAGE TO

el qo

FOLLOW rv; [hwo FINALLY GRACE )_ THE WORD
._ —2

OF AFFIRMATION. (‘row ARE MY SON, MY
DAUGHTER, THE BELOVED; WITH YOU I AM
WELL pumnseo." |

IT IS A CRITICAL SEQUENCE - AND
SOCIAL SCIENTISTS ARE TELLING US, GIVEN

jee
THE PECULIARITIES OF OUR TIME AND PLACE,

NOT AT ALL A SIMPLE MATTER.
Qa
FoR ONE THING, WE DON’T HAVE A LOT

OF LATITUDE FROM THE AGE OF THIRTY ON.
ee |

2 tpiral Yor Uri Profeer—|

THIRTY MEANS REALLY DIGGING INTO. ONE'S
4 _——— et

CAREER, [HAVING BABIES AND PARENTING
= foe — aye

YOUNG CHILDREN.\ For M.D.'s ano J.D.'S,
me b mm 00 Mite

M.B.A.'’s AND PH.D. 'S, THIRTY MEANS THAT

THE ACCUMULATED BILLS OF A DECADE OF
* hoo = a a ———

HIGHER EDUCATION MUST BE PAID SO IT'S
fiatncti ti

TIME TO GENERATE SERIOUS INCOME.

FURTHERMORE, THERE ARE MAJOR SOCIE-

jumnananenecemieiete ,

TAL FACTORS THAT MITIGATE AGAINST THIS

CREATIVE DECISION MAKING.

A UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PSY-

CHOLOGIST, MARTIN.SELIGMAN, ANALYZES THE
SSS

EPIDEMIC OF DEPRESSION IN OUR CULTURE.

HE WRITES, ("YOUNG PERSONS ARE TEN TIMES

LIKELIER TO SUFFER SEVERE DEPRESSION
THAN THEIR GRANDPARENTS." / [LEARNED
OPTIMISM, P. 282]

THERE ARE TWO REASONS, DR, SELIGMAN

ee
PROPOSES. | FIRST, YOUNG ADULTS HAVE MORE
POWER TO MAKE DECISIONS AND MORE ALTER-
Pena = ee) ————iie

NATIVES THAN ANYONE IN ALL OF HUMAN

—,

ve
3 hud A
gous ALMA

HISTORY. SECOND, AND MORE SERIOUSLY,
hl

THE EMERGENCE OF RISING EXPECTATIONS FOR

SELF-SATISFACTION, GRATIFICATION AND
eS
MEANING IMMEDIATELY; (NOT SOME TIME IN

THE FUTURE WHEN THE SHIP COMES IN, BUT

now. | A JOB IS NO LONGER SIMPLY THE WAY

TO GENERATE INCOME.\ IT MUST PRODUCE
mil ed

MEANING FOR tre. \ MARRIAGE, SELIGMAN
mm esee seth gt eS

OBSERVES, IS NOT JUST FOR PRODUCING THE

NEXT GENERATION. | "OUR MATE TODAY MUST

————
BE ETERNALLY SEXY, AND THIN, AND INTER-
(EE es =,
ESTING TO TALK TO, AND GOOD AT TENNIS."
epee
[p. 283]

"MAXIMAL SELEy'" SELIGMAN CALLS US.

"THE MODERN INDIVIDUAL IS NOT THE PEAS-
eT

ANT OF YORE WITH A FIXED FUTURE YAWNING

aueap. | He OR SHE IS A FRANTIC TRADING
—e

FLOOR OF OPTIONS, DECISIONS AND PREFER-
Se
ENCES." | THE RESULT IS DEPRESSION AND A
woe, Ra

LOSS OF COMMUNITY AND A DECREASE IN

COMMITMENT TO THE COMMON GOOD f "THE
WANING OF THE commuNITY." G@@vepas OUF

THERE IS, I BELIEVE, SOMETHING

STIRRING IN OUR CULTURE. | WE ARE BEGIN-

NING TO UNDERSTAND THESE DYNAMICS.
ee
PERHAPS WE DISCOVERED THAT LIFE COMMIT-
TED _TO NOTHING LARGER THAN ITSELF IS
PRETTY MEAGER.\ PERHAPS IT IS SIMPLY A
_--—\ SENSE THAT I HAVE ONE LIFE TO LIVE AND
a 6
IT IS A MATTER OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO
we |
DA Udy we ME TO USE IT FOR SOME PURPOSE OTHER THAN

[MY OWN AMUSEMENT. (3?

ONE

JESUS WENT TO THE JORDAN RIV
Rome ey

DAY, LEFT T ROUTINE OF CARPENTRY AND
ees

DECIDED TO GIVENUIS LIFE Gop.
PART OF WHAT JESUS ae THAT

ai 9
Aton b%4

G0 rf 4 ish PERIOD OF TIME BEFWEBN THE AGE OF TWELVE

ds (we AND THIRTY WAS“WHAT ALK OF US DO, NAMELY
ww GET READY FOR THE REST OF\OUR LIVES;

ne? = P, ‘
Y wi WAIT FOR, WONDER ABOUT, STRUGGLE WITH
ib 2 THE OPTIONS, EXPERIMENT WITH AND GENER-
2) "|
,

a; \ 26

fh
wwe
pc wt

HERE IS A TANTALIZING SENSE IN WHICH WE

ARE ALWAYS IN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING
Se

WHAT WE WILL BE WHEN WE UP. :
<d'g Ww gener Cm tt {0 — Lt3 tru for
HSAs IT MAY BE WHY E HERE THIS q4vs—

i
acer 5 - LIKE JESUS STANDING ON THE
BANK OF THE RIVER, |WAITING TO _HEAR A
Weel
WORD THAT WILL HELP US KNOW WHAT TO DO
eS Ee
WITH OUR LIVES.
JESUS RESPONDED TO THE WORD HE
—_—_—_——

HEARD BY STEPPING INTO THE WATER. For

HIM THAT ACT MEANT OPENING HIMSELF TO

Gop, TO GOD'S PURPOSE FOR HIS rre.| AND

— aes

* Aw SO I PRESUME TO COMMEND YOU FOR BANG

IF YOU HAVE NOT, OR IF YOU ARE
= @ HESITANT AND TENTATIVE, TO INVITE YOU
i ad - TO STEP 1n,\ To DO WHAT YOU MUST DO, TO
Cerner | |

OPEN YOUR LIFE TO Gop TO GIVE YOURSELF

To Gop's PURPOSE, TO COMMIT YOUR LIFE TO

ee eS

Sa
SOME PURPOSE LARGER THAN YOUR OWN SECU- dr Gus
a
RITY AND AMUSEMENT, /TO GIVE YOUR LIFE - a —

—r Vv
AND IN THE GIVING TO BECOME WHO GoD ho
eee] tse A
WANTS YOU TO BE. _ Or pr thas
DAG HARE OLD'S O wm bs
AMMARSKJOLD'S DIARY ENTRY FOR
a Cowon by mI
WHITSUNDAY, 1961, CAPTURES THE SENSE OF (ast -
_

IT.
"IT DON'T KNOW WHO - OR WHAT - PUT

TH question. | I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WAS

pur. \ I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER ANSWERING.
BuT AT SOME MOMENT I DID ANSWER YES TO
| renee ol

SOMEONE - OR SOMETHING - AND FROM THAT
——E ee,

HOUR I WAS CERTAIN THAT EXISTENCE IS
(Ace

MEANINGFUL AND THAT, THEREFORE, MY LIFE,

at
IN SELF-SURRENDER, HAD A GOAL... FROM

THERE ARE mrss. | A FEW_MONTHS
a,

AFTER HE WROTE THAT, HAMMARSKJOLD DIED
——

IN AN AIR CRASH WHILE FLYING TO NEGOTI-
ATE A UNITED NATIONS CEASE FIRE IN

AFRICA. | THREE YEARS AFTER JESUS STEPPED

be |

INTO THE JORDAN RIVER TO BE BAPTIZED, HE

woop

WAS CRUCIFIED.

IT IS SAFER TO STAY put, | or TO SAY
at eee

YES, NOT TO STEP rorwaro” /T1 WILL

CERTAINLY BE LESS EXHILARATING, LESS
i

EXCITING, LESS ALIVE.
—,, eae

HAMMARSKJOLD FELT THAT HIS LIFE HAD

MEANING AND PURPOSE AFTER HE saz0YES.")

AND JESUS, WHEN THE WATERS OF BAPTISM

FLOWED DOWN OVER HIS HEAD, HEARD A
ito
VOICE, No ONE ELSE HEARD IT, LUKE
Loo
suscestep.\ Tue VOICE WAS FOR HIM AND IT
en
SAID SOMETHING HE HAD NOT KNOWN OR HEARD
|
BEFORE. THE VOICE SAID:
=

"YOU ARE MY SON, THE BELOVED.| WITH

you I AM WELL PLEASED."

AFTER THE CRISIS - arerenarzon; \

AFTER THE DECISION - UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
TT

TA ne wh People com Wa me Se. A

+o prosrays Walt) Meer _

dua =» IT IS THE WORD WE WANT TO HEAR AND

NEED TO HEAR.
qe”

OE HEARTS -

WATTS ly
T wat t Che DD sww +r
byw {et his Cure Q Wigw

Ree rely I “ULV eww — Wy
Waurs e Wetd sip wh | a

ye San Mes NB | te gue to

LL Gd - awr Hn + eer ~ Ae voice 4

Gui “You ere wy awaloter [5m he lolust -
Wer WAV -:

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Original file: Sermons/1993/011693 A Sense of Vocation.pdf

John M. Buchanan

A Sense of Vocation