A Vocation Song

What is a call? What does it mean?

            To take new roads, but sight unseen?

To find a path new and unknown,

            and know it's God's, and not my own?

 

To understand, we all should ask:

            Is there a joy in this new task?

Does this bring gladness to the soul?

            Can we rejoice to meet this goal?

 

But also ask ere we proceed:

            Does this help meet the world's great need? 

Can those who suffer want or pain 

            yet be made new and whole again?

 

We are not called to endless grief,

            nor only bliss beyond belief; 

Our call is where our joy complete

            and all the world's deep hunger meet.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2022, after words

            by Frederick Buechner

MUSIC: Suggested tune O WALY WALY, English folk melody

 

 

I would be among those deeply affected by the recent death of novelist/essayist/Presbyterian pastor Frederick Buechner. I have most of this books and have probably quoted his works more in my sermons than any source other than scripture. It's probably not an accident that my writing has been stuck since his death was reported. One of his more famous sayings provided, after some extended reflection/wrestling, the text here. It's set to a familiar hymn tune because that's how I work, but my guess is that this is much more song than hymn.

 

God, grant us the contentment (alternate tune)

God, grant us the contentment

            Of knowing what we need,

Not wanting after riches

            That cause the soul to bleed.

Deliver us from evil

            That comes of loving wealth,

But hold us in your true love,

            Your life and breath and health.

 

Give us the grace, our dear Lord,

            To seek your gift of love;

To choose that which is faithful

            And peace-like as the dove.

With righteousness and goodness

            And gentleness to give,

O God of all our living,

            Hold us and help us live.

 

For we who know abundance,

            Let us live not in pride,

But only in your goodness,

            Lord, teach us to abide.

Keep us from vain desiring

            That leads to pain and strife,

But give to us your best gift:

            Life that is truly life.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, after 1 Timothy 6:6-19.

MUSIC: Tune PASSION CHORALE, Hans Leo Hassler, 1621; harm. J.S. Bach, 1729.

So, about three years ago I came up with this text on the indicated reading from 1 Timothy even though I wasn't actually preaching from it at the time. So I let it sit, and for the fall I decided to get into these difficult little epistles for preaching material for the first time. I had originally set the text to the SALLEY GARDENS tune, but the version in our hymnal is not accessible with the copyright licensing we have, so I needed another. Once I decided to adapt Martin Luther's supposed line and say "Why should Good Friday have all the good tunes?", I was set.