If you ever struggle with the “ordinariness” of life, if you ever struggle with having to do the “mundane” things, if you are ever disappointed because your great hopes and plans and dreams seemingly have not materialized in the necessities of living, then you are encouraged to read Gene Veith’s book on vocation. Dr. Veith clearly and with refreshing simplicity explains Luther’s understanding of the biblical doctrine of vocation, and Veith explains how this doctrine impacts our everyday life.

In a sense, the title of Veith’s book summarizes the content of the book: God at Work. Vocation is God choosing “to work through human beings, who, in their different capacities and according to their different talents, serve each other. This is the doctrine of vocation” (p.14). In others words, God heals through doctors, God provides daily bread through farmers, God provides housing through the carpenter, God gives comfort to the infant as Mom changes a diaper, and so on. Vocation acknowledges that the work of doctors and farmers and carpenters and moms is all God-work. All of a sudden, ordinary everyday life is transformed, because vocation is God at work through us. As we are faithful in the various stations of our lives, the ordinary becomes extra-ordinary by faith in the Creator-Redeemer because the ordinary is a God-work as God works through us. 

In his book, Veith applies the doctrine of vocation to our calling in the workplace (chapter five), in the family (chapter six), as a citizen (chapter seven), and in the church (chapter eight). He also discusses the ethics of vocation (what is permitted and not permitted in vocation, chapter nine), and explains what it means to “bear the cross” in vocation (chapter ten).

Having a proper understanding of vocation helps remove discouragement and false pressure from our lives. As God’s children by faith in Jesus, we don’t have to be extra-ordinary or do extra-ordinary things. We are set free to be ourselves as redeemed by God in the place where God has placed us and to delight in the fact that God serves and blesses our neighbor through us. Recognizing vocation as “God at work” places vocation within the realm of Gospel; it is “a manifestation of God’s action, not our own” (p.23). As such, vocation sets us free and gives dignity to our work.

I strongly recommend this book. It has been for me an encouraging and life-changing read.