Finding Faith: All honest work carries spiritual dignity

Contributed By Devlyn Brooks Today at 9:30 AM Listen Comments Share Share this article Opinion Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. The Trust Project What is this? Martin Luther is remembered for his many theological developments, and one dear to my heart is his principle of vocation. A principle which he widened from just describing a divine call to being clergy, but rather to the call for service that every Christian feels. Luther was the first theologian credited for writing in depth about how every faithful person receives a divine call to vocation, or rather ordinary, every day service to their neighbor. ADVERTISEMENT I receive affirmation of this principle watching the people who work in our faith-based organization that feeds, shelters and houses more than 500 neighbors every day. Trust me, I can attest to the fact that it isn’t the hours, the pay or the simplicity of what we do that keeps them showing up each day. No, the work they do is too demanding for anyone to think they could perform it for long if there wasn’t a divine explanation. Their devotion comes from a pull much more intimate that keeps the team coming back day after day when the odds are so stacked against them. So, yes, you can say that I am an admirer of the principle of vocation. Someone I love recently began working with a medical specialist after agonizingly being ignored, humiliated and belittled by the medical profession at large for years. But through a journey that could only have been Holy Spirit driven, my loved one found a doctor who listens, who wants something more for their quality of life and who understands his role as a doctor as … you guessed it … a “calling.” Sitting in his office recently, I asked him about his journey, and he was gracious enough to share how he found his way to his medical specialty. As he talked about the influence his faith had, and also the role God played, my spine tingled. And, yes, I cried a bit too. Not only because his faith story was so compelling and inspiring, but also because of the hope that he symbolizes for someone I love. MORE FAITH NEWS: Finding Faith: After the election, choose connection over division Finding Faith: Five years and 135,000 words later, faith is still found in everyday choices Finding Faith: The tragic failure behind $40 million If you haven’t gleaned so from the years I’ve been writing, I love being a pastor. I love sharing my call story, and how it took me four decades to find my way here to this moment and this particular expression of my call. ADVERTISEMENT But I also know that the first 30 years that I spent as a journalist was a call too. That preparation taught me so many skills and developed so many talents, that I wouldn’t be here now without that call. Thank you, friends, for whatever call you’ve answered, or that you’re considering. Please remember, that as Martin Luther has taught us, all honest work holds equal moral and spiritual dignity. Amen. Comments Share Share this article Opinion Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags FAITH By Devlyn Brooks Devlyn Brooks is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and serves Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minnesota. He blogs about faith at findingfaithin.com, and can be reached at [email protected]. Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next Columns Port: Jamie Selzler goes from citizen to Senate minority leader in 100 days 13h ago · By Rob Port Columns Port: Republican traditionalists get legislative leadership spots as routed populists fail to mount challenges 1d ago · By Rob Port Columns Plain Talk: 'Buck stops with our office,' Secretary of State Michael Howe says of ballot errors 1d ago · By Rob Port ADVERTISEMENT Get Local Must Reads Prep Who is the next state champion? Follow our Dakota Bowl live blog 3h ago · By Forum staff North Dakota Audit raises concerns at North Dakota Veterans Home, including choking death caused by improper meal 21h ago · By Sav Kelly North Dakota ND Development Fund pauses new financing to address audit; Commerce head takes back board seat 17h ago · By Nathan Price / The Bismarck Tribune North Dakota North Dakota readies for public charter school applications in early December 1d ago · By Robin Huebner