Vocation

There aren't many opportunities to be a hero, just by doing your job, but that is exactly what happened in New York City (or should I say over NYC) this past January.  On my way home from Arkansas this past weekend, I got stuck in a snow storm  and had a chance to listen to every podcast on my phone.  The television show 60 minutes makes the audio from their show available for podcast download and a few weeks back they had a feature on US Airways Flight 1549 which made an emergency landing into the Hudson River on January 15, 2oo9.

I had a emotional response upon hearing the stories of the pilots and crew of that potentially disastrous experience.  Not only could 155 passengers been killed in the powerless airplanes decent towards America's largest metropolis, but so could have 

many other people in the surrounding buildings.  So how did the crew of that flight transition from people doing their job they have done a million times before into heroes?  By doing their jobs.  They became saviors to the passengers by following the training they had received and hoped never to use.  Some jobs people choose become used to saving lives, for example police officers, fire fighters, and medical professionals.  As Christians, however, we have also been called to be life savers.  Not through any extraordinary means, but by the simple call of living out our vocations and reflecting Christ in our lives.  In this analogy, we don't save anyone's lives, but we do become a source of salvation.  Through Christ's dedication of his calling, all humanity is saved from eternal damnation, however, through our dedication to our calling, we are able to share that salvation with others.

Just as Capt. Chesley Sullenberger and his crew became instant heroes by following the calling God gave them, you may find yourself becoming an instant hero when a co-worker asks you what keeps you going, or why you act with integrity even amongst so much corruption.  Our Lord has called you to your vocation, whether it is in teaching, managing, pastoring, practicing law, parenting, or retailing, but through that vocation your true calling is always be ready to share the reason for the hope that you have in Jesus Christ.  

Photo Source = originally posted to '''Flickr''' as [http://flickr.com/photos/22608787@N00/3200086900 Plane crash into Hudson River