Devotion - Labor Day

I realize that this secular holiday may go unnoticed by the Clemson University community.  It is not a holiday for us; classes go on as usual.  And, while I am usually a stickler for keeping to the Liturgical Calendar, over the secular calendar, Labor Day presents us with an opportunity to reflect on our vocation and how we live out that vocation in the world.

Our "vocation" is our calling.  Each of us, by virtue of our baptism, have the vocation of living in such a way as to make Christ present in the world.  Some religious communities will limit the use of the term vocation to those who serve the church in some sort of a full-time capacity.  In such communities it would be said of me that I have "a vocation."

But our community's insistence on the priesthood of all believers would not allow us to make such statements.  We understand that God calls persons to a variety of tasks, and not merely those which directly benefit the workings of the institutional church.  Thus, one lives out their vocation as a teacher, or business owner, or engineer, or clerk.  Luther said that the milk-maid was every bit as engaged with the work of the Kingdom of God as was the local priest.

Regardless of the occupation we have, we are called to live out our vocation.  As we choose an occupation (as we prepare for an occupation) we need to reflect on how that occupation will show forth our vocation.  Right now, your occupation is that of a student.  How do you live out vocation in this "job"?

I am sorry that you don't have Labor Day off, as an opportunity to reflect on these things and for us to gather and discuss them.  But I did not want the morning to pass without affirming for you that each one of you has been called to serve God.  You have been given a vocational calling.  It is now up to you to learn to live it.