“To be a minister or a missionary,” several answered at once.
“A soldier,” said Wolfgang.
“A mother,” said Minna.
“No,” answered Pastor Wilm. “You may name all the jobs under the sun, and I will still say No. I believe with Paul and with Martin Luther that the true calling for us human beings is to glorify God, to glorify him in spirit, mind, and body. Whatever we do with our lives, our first and foremost task is to glorify God. On every piece of music Johann Sebastian Bach composed, he wrote, ‘To God alone the glory.’ Tell me now, what do you think of our friend Fränzchen?”
They all thought of Fränzchen, who drove a donkey cart up and down the streets of Bethel and collected garbage and swill for the pigs. Just about all he could say was “Pig swill! Pig swill!” And yet Fränzchen was always happy and cheerful. It made you feel good inside when he passed by.
“Fränzchen glorifies God,” came a voice from the back of the room.
“You bet he does!” said Pastor Wilm. “Fränzchen could go around feeling that life has cheated him, that he has an inferior, worthless body and mind, not even good enough for the scrap heap. But Fränzchen’s spirit knows that even with his afflicted mind and body, he can glorify God. And because he does, he brings joy to everyone he meets. To see Fränzchen makes me love Jesus Christ all the more.”
Those things, good Lord, that we pray for, give us thy grace to labor for. Amen.
–Sir Thomas More (d. 1535)
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Lord Jesus, in your days on earth, you chose followers to send out to do your work. We know that you are still looking for hands and voices and minds to use, and we ask you to bless those whom you are still sending out to your service.
Bless the ministers of your church in all its denominations. Make them diligent in study, faithful in pastoral duty, wise in teaching, fearless and winsome in preaching, and ever clothed with your grace and love.
Bless those who teach the young in schools, colleges, and universities. Make them to think clearly and to teach enthusiastically, that they may lead their students in the search for truth. Help them teach in such a way that they may inspire all with the love of learning, and be dedicated to the service of the world.
Bless those who tend the sick; doctors, surgeons, nurses. Give them skill, gentleness, and sympathy, so that, when it is possible to heal, they may do so, and, when it is not possible, they may bring help and comfort to those who enter into the valley of the shadow of death.
Bless fathers and mothers to whom you have committed the trust of a little child. Help them to build homes in which tender love and wise discipline walk hand in hand.
Bless those who do the world’s work, and grant that whatever they do, they may do it for you, so that they may never offer less than their best and so that they have no need to be ashamed. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
–William Barclay (1907-1978), A Barclay Prayer Book.
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