Ryan O'Dowd — Rethinking Vocation

Frederick Buechner (1926–2022) famously said: "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." While it contains some truth, this idea departs significantly from a more ancient picture of vocation. In Luther's reading of the valiant woman in Proverbs 31, work and human identity come to us from outside as a gift, not from our deep gladness within. It assumes the unfolding providence of God over against financial goals and life plans. It regards suffering and boredom not as evils to be avoided at all costs, but as circumstances often used by God for good. It also centers on imitation of Christ with the goal of union with God, not an impressive résumé for my LinkedIn page. This talk will follow Luther's lead to help us rethink vocation through the lens of Holy Scripture.