By Steven Norris
“Do you have just a moment to wait? I need to grab something out of my office.” The truth was that I was in a bit of a hurry, but my local, hometown pharmacist was really trying to help me get to the bottom of an issue with my child’s medication. She came back carrying an article that had been thoroughly read and extensively highlighted before continuing.
“I’m a bit of a nerd and am always reading to learn about the latest in pharmacological research. Something you said made me think of an article I just read.” As it turns out, the article talked about a genetic component to how some people’s bodies process certain medications. The side effects my child was experiencing were likely a result of just such a reaction.
Annette and Brett Duncan are the most recent owner/operators of Wynn’s Pharmacy. They are both people of strong faith. In fact, Brett serves on staff of a church here in the Griffin area. On this particular day, Annette went way above and beyond the call of duty to help serve our child and make sure that he was getting the best care possible.
This is just one example of members of our community modeling a lived faith. Not everyone is called to be a pastor, evangelist, or missionary, but we are all called to use our gifts and abilities to embody the love of Christ to our neighbors. As Frederick Buechner famously said regarding vocation: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
What the world needs is more disciples of Jesus seeking to live out their faith in meaningful ways through their respective vocations. We need businesspeople who are driven by a deeper calling than just profit margins. We need civil servants who will be led by conviction, not just convenience. We need teachers, nurses, and physicians guided by Jesus’ call to serve, rather than being served. We need farmers who care about longevity and the care of creation.
The same can be said for callings not necessarily tied to paychecks. We need stay-at-home moms and dads who devote their best energy to raising children who know the love of Christ. We need PTA presidents and civic club members who look for ways to promote justice, equity, and generosity among the vulnerable. We need retired individuals who use their available time to serve the larger community. After all, the primary location of discipleship is the place where we live: our homes and our workplaces.
As we continue in the Easter season, I encourage each of us to reflect on the gifts and abilities with which God has blessed us. How is God calling you to use those to serve others? How can we “connect the dots” between our Sunday worship and our Monday through Friday lifestyles? I am thankful for witnesses like the Duncans who have improved the quality of our family’s life by allowing Christ to shine through them.