The Search For Spock
There is no one who understands. There is no one who searches for God.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%203&version=EHV>
Steeped in the Lutheran doctrine of “vocation”, what is supposed to happen when a vocation changes? Generative AI defines vocation: “Vocation is a call or summons to perform a certain function or enter a certain career. It can also mean the function or career toward which someone believes they are called. Vocation comes from the Latin word vocatio which means ‘a call, summons’. It can also mean an occupation to which someone is especially drawn or for which they are suited, trained, or qualified.”
The Lutheran definition of vocation is at the same time broader and more nuanced. [For further reading click here.] It is more than just a job or career, it is deeply relational. We move through our vocations throughout our entire life. We begin our life in vocation as “child”, we are brought into “family”, which is another vocation. Student, friend, worker, spouse, parent, mentor, can you see the rhythm of vocation as it flows with the relationships of life?
There is an additional relational dimension to vocation.
Luther puts it strongly: Vocations are “masks of God.” On the surface, we see an ordinary human face — our mother, the doctor, the teacher, the waitress, our pastor — but, beneath the appearances, God is ministering to us through them. God is hidden in human vocations.
From <https://www.lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy/life-ministry/library/vocation>
We receive God’s blessings through other’s vocation; we give God’s blessing through our vocations. Now, back to the opening question: What is supposed to happen when a vocation changes? In the ordinary flow of life, we make small changes and adjustments as vocations shift. We take on more responsibility or relinquish responsibility as vocation dictates. We grow as students, taking more accountability for our education. Parents, many times reluctantly, change their vocational roles as those relationships morph.
There are times when vocations change suddenly, or unexpectedly: loss of a job, divorce, illness, death. Even these have a certain degree of flow that can be anticipated, and adjustments made to vocation. This comes a bit closer to the posed question, and I believe part of the answer. Our vocation becomes our identity. I am a… insert career here. I am a former spouse to… insert name here. God has called home my… insert relationship here. There is something about trying to see behind a mask and know God is there. It is something else to try to put on a mask and suppose God will be there. Vocation can quite often grow into identity. Vocation is relational, identity is solitary. We search for our identity. I need to know who I am before I can know who you are. This is really humankind in the fallen nature. Hiding from self, hiding from one another, hiding from God.
Search for your true identity.
Search for your vocation.
Search for others vocation and see behind the mask.
Search for the Lord and his strength.
Seek his face always.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20105&version=EHV>
Trust the Promises,
Steve Skiver
PS Don’t search for Spock, spoiler alert, they found him…