Vocation

Vocation

“Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.” —Frederick Buechner

When I was growing up, that word—vocation—had one meaning and one meaning only. When someone said, “He has found his vocation,” it meant a call to serve the church. Nothing else qualified.

I never thought of other kinds of work as vocation. After all, I grew up with a father who frequently said, “The reason they call it work is because you don’t like to do it. If you liked doing it, no one w...