A Voice Calling Out in the Wilderness

So here it is December, 12 days before Christmas, and I'm finally posting a new blog. Shoulder pain keeps me from the endless hours of writing in which I once engaged. But I'm feeling pretty good right now, so here goes . . . .

As I mixed honey into my coffee this morning, I began to think about what it takes to get that honey into the little bear bottle. Man cannot make honey. Only bees can do that. But, it has to be collected, apparently by unusually clad folks who feel comfortable around flying, stinging insects. God love 'em!

Beekeeping, or apiculture, is the maintenance by humans of honey bee colonies. A beekeeper (apiarist) keeps bees in order to collect their honey and other products, to pollinate crops, or to produce bees for sale to other beekeepers.

Cave drawings dating to 15,000 years ago show humans collecting honey, and jars of honey were found in the tombs of Pharaohs. Apparently honey can last a LONG time. (Check out the links at Wikipedia for more information.)

My next thought was, Who would want to do this job? There are so many jobs, or careers, in which I would never have an interest. Which got me thinking about why people do what they do.

A calling, vocation, profession, is by definition, a way of life which someone has a strong desire to pursue. It seems to me that it's more than merely a "job," which can be flipping hamburgers at a fast food restaurant. I can't imagine anyone thinking, Boy, I can't wait to serve up burgers and fries to strangers for the rest of my life. I think a "calling," is not just what you want to do, but it's what you're gifted to do. It's "in the blood."

According to grammarist.com, an avocation is something done in addition to ones vocation, usually a hobby. But an avocation can also be described as a passion. Imagine doing what you love and have a passion for AND making a living at it. Your avocation becomes your vocation--your calling.

I studied biology because I was good at it. It came easy to me. Unlike Chemistry, for instance, which was a bear. My love of biology drove me to teaching, because I wanted youngsters to love it, too. And I was/am good at teaching the subject that I love. It's in my blood, my genetic makeup.

So people become policemen, airline pilots, teachers . . . beekeepers. Men and women would have to be called to do those jobs. The necessary skill set and mindset are peculiar to each one. You've got to "have it in you" to pick up a gun, chase the bad guy, run into a burning building. Oh sure, you can be trained, but still. . . . Something calls you to take a given path.

The next station stop for this particular train of thought was The North Pole. Yep. I began thinking about Santa Claus. Lots of movies about the guy. Over 60, not counting remakes. Here's a list for you to peruse.

Most folks know the basic story of St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus, a good man, a monk, a saint, who loves children and brings gifts, but the movies often show him as a reluctant participant in the gift-giving milieu. Fred Claus doesn't want anything to do with it.

Tim Allen's portrayal is based on a quasi legal document that makes him Santa each year, and he can do nothing about it. The REAL Santa would have to be passionate about making toys, living in a cold environment, and dropping down dirty chimneys.

That got me thinking more deeply about the notion of Santa Claus. He's a loving man who lives in a magical place. I like the way it is portrayed in The Polar Express. All aboard!

According to the legends, Santa rewards the good and punishes the naughty by depositing coal in their stockings. Therefore, we are urged to "be good, for goodness sakes!" But who can be truly good. The Bible says that only God is good. Our human nature does not lean that way. Don't believe me? Read the newspaper.

God sent His Son, so that if we accept Him, we can be called Good.

And so, it's almost Christmas. What is your calling? Do you hear His voice calling you home to the manger? Because there is a magical place to which we are all called. But it's not The North Pole. It's heaven. "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." Heb. 4:7