Editor’s note: Spirit of Abilene posted a Q&A with Dr. Larry McGraw on June 20. In the article, he said, “”Not seeking to single out the students, “All of us should be cautious when it is more about “what I feel” rather than “what is my calling.” Click here to read the Q&A.

By Dr. Larry McGraw

For 14 weeks in 2008, the Black Eyed Peas (the singing group, not the legumes) sat atop the music world with their #1 song “I Gotta Feeling.”  For all the non-Baptists, this great dance song was played at a multitude of school pep rallies, wedding receptions, and sporting venues.  Apparently, it is good to have a feeling.

In an earlier interview about students and people of faith, we had discussed notable changes which had taken place throughout the past decades in relation to education and church life.  In many respects, individualization has begun to supersede community and congregational experiences usually based on “what makes me feel good.”  As a summation, we had remarked that “all of us should be cautious when it is more about ‘what I feel’ rather than ‘what is my calling’”—especially for the believer.

The point seeking to be made was that all followers of the Lord have one “calling” and that is to be a living testimony to the life-changing gospel.  This “calling” does not mean that everyone has to be a full-time vocational preacher, missionary, professor, or any other “glamorous” position.  What it does, mean, however, is that believers are “called” to serve the Lord and others no matter what life situations might be experienced—whether one “feels” like it or not.

For the student, one of the main responsibilities of university life is to be trained and prepared for future vocation goals.  We would often tell students that they would face three types of work:  1) a job; 2) a career; and 3) a calling.  A “job” is work that is done to earn money.  We have all had jobs at various points in our lives.  We would toil in order to earn money for life’s necessities:  food, clothing, shelter, etc.

From a personal remembrance: one summer during my college years, I worked at a warehouse unloading boxcars and semi-trailers full of furniture, bicycles, mattresses, and huge rolls of carpet. I did that “toilsome labor” day after day for money that would go towards tuition and other needs when the next fall rolled around. Now, that was a “job!”

A “career” reflects employment that goes beyond the transitional value of merely making money. One’s career embodies a response to one’s giftedness and desire to make a contribution to society through a consistent employment (hopefully pleasant) experience. “Careers” can morph along the way as changes take place in the world or can even come to an end in order to pursue another beneficial career. For example, one of my friends had a great career as an outstanding public school teacher who, upon retirement, transitioned to a new “career” of preaching/pastoring small country churches.

But then, there is the “calling.”  A “calling” is something that you have to do, want to do, must do because it brings fulfillment and joy. One’s “calling” engulfs one’s job/career thereby giving a deeper meaning to everyday life and experience.

Jobs and careers can be sidetracked by “feelings.”  At some time in the past, have we not all said “I don’t feel like going to work today” or “my career doesn’t always feel important?” University students would sometimes drop courses or not do assignments saying “I’m just not feeling it!”

Remembering that one’s calling cannot be derailed simply by a feeling gives fulfillment and encouragement to press on no matter what comes our way. Here’s a thought . . . maybe we need a #1 song entitled “I Gotta Calling.”  We should all dance to that!

Dr. Larry McGraw is a retired Hardin-Simmons University religion professor but continues to announce HSU games