Love Buechner's quote about gladness and hunger. You unpacked it well to help us think about how to better apply this principle. Will definitely read this more than once in the days to come! Thank you.
A fine piece, and I do love Beuchner! Back in the 70s a friend turned me on to his book "Wishful Thinking." And while I generally agree, our deep gladness may be trumped by God's desires, desires that require our obedience. Jonah didn't find deep gladness when Nineveh repented. Moses fought hard against God's call on his life to return to Egypt. My dad worked as a union painter, not a glamorous job that met his deep gladness, but he chose to support his family.
Some of us ARE blessed when the two intersect, but every rule seems to have its exception.
Tim, my favorite is The Hungering Dark, Buechner's collection of essays on vocation. I might argue that a union painter might paint as his avocation, but his vocation, or calling, might be to be a wonderful dad or a loving husband. Sometimes calling goes beyond how we earn a living. I like your biblical examples, though. I think God sometimes calls us to do hard things, and the obedience itself brings us connection with God--which can make us glad if we let it. Sometimes we choose to be glad by choosing to obey, perhaps?
Curious about West Coast Christian Writers? I wrote about the conference and why it's worth attending in last week's newsletter, which you can read here: https://keriwyattkent.substack.com/p/ever-wish-you-had-a-writing-bestie?r=3w949
Love Buechner's quote about gladness and hunger. You unpacked it well to help us think about how to better apply this principle. Will definitely read this more than once in the days to come! Thank you.
A fine point, when our ultimate desire is to please God, he surprises us with changes on what constitutes our gladness. ;)
A fine piece, and I do love Beuchner! Back in the 70s a friend turned me on to his book "Wishful Thinking." And while I generally agree, our deep gladness may be trumped by God's desires, desires that require our obedience. Jonah didn't find deep gladness when Nineveh repented. Moses fought hard against God's call on his life to return to Egypt. My dad worked as a union painter, not a glamorous job that met his deep gladness, but he chose to support his family.
Some of us ARE blessed when the two intersect, but every rule seems to have its exception.
Tim, my favorite is The Hungering Dark, Buechner's collection of essays on vocation. I might argue that a union painter might paint as his avocation, but his vocation, or calling, might be to be a wonderful dad or a loving husband. Sometimes calling goes beyond how we earn a living. I like your biblical examples, though. I think God sometimes calls us to do hard things, and the obedience itself brings us connection with God--which can make us glad if we let it. Sometimes we choose to be glad by choosing to obey, perhaps?