Publishers Weekly
05/09/2022
In this vague outing, Ambrose University president Smith (Wisdom from Babylon) encourages readers to find how they can best serve God. “Vocation is never discerned in a historical vacuum; it is always in the specifics of the world in which we live,” Smith contends, urging readers to consider how their particular circumstances equip them to contribute to bettering the world and to living out “the call of God on our lives.” He outlines “four indispensable capacities” to help one make the most of their situation (focus, courage, connectedness, and patience) and suggests that no vocation should be looked down upon, citing the laudatory treatment of the wise woman’s manual labor in Proverbs. Explaining the benefits of pursuing one’s vocation from within an organization, Smith posits that working with others whose strengths complement one’s own enables one to “make a difference far greater than we could accomplish” individually. Though exhortations to “live out our vocations in the here and now” are short on actionable guidance, Smith’s consideration of how to abide by Christian principles contains some pearls of wisdom, such as his discussion of the “hallmarks of the Christian mind: transcendence, truth, reason, sin, love, and wisdom.” This works better as a philosophical program for modern Christian life than as a practical guide to finding one’s vocation. (June)
Ken Shigematsu
"I absolutely loved Your Calling Here and Now. Full of brilliant insights and poignant vignettes, this book will give you the courage to show up for your life and inspire you to fulfill the purpose for which you were made."
Dianna Kunce
"This book is for everyone! It contains wisdom for life: life with an expansive vision and life in the everyday. No matter what stage of life we are in or what circumstances companion us, we are called by God to vocational holiness. Gordon T. Smith has a unique gift of helping us steward the 'work of our hands' with courage and hopeful realism. He invites us, individually and organizationally, to intentionally seek the wisdom of Christ for this time and this place. Our vocational engagement in today's world is a means to experience God's grace, and we discover that our life and work are ultimately about love for Christ and others."
Denise Easter
"In a time in which change is rapid and often overwhelming, Gordon Smith writes with a welcome calm and spiritual grounding. This is so needed, as many have sought to understand the impact of all of this change on their vocations. Your Calling Here and Now is holistic in its approach, with a particular unpacking of the importance of community and organizational intelligence, and the effect of each on the vocational flourishing of every individual. Here anyone will find hope and practical guidance for navigating these challenging days, from a very wise and capable guide."
Mark Buchanan
"Few people have thought as long and deep about vocation as Gordon T. Smith. He thinks with the ancients about it. He joins the conversation of contemporary thinkers on it and brings to that conversation his own scintillating insights. His writing is felicitous and humorous. And this, his signature virtue: it is clear as a mountain lake, where you can see all the way down to the bottom without a single ripple of distortion. This book is both primer and compendium on a topic that the church and the world, with fresh urgency, need to learn and to heed."
From the Publisher
"I absolutely loved Your Calling Here and Now. Full of brilliant insights and poignant vignettes, this book will give you the courage to show up for your life and inspire you to fulfill the purpose for which you were made."
--Ken Shigematsu, pastor of Tenth Church, Vancouver, BC, and author of Survival Guide for the Soul
"In a time in which change is rapid and often overwhelming, Gordon Smith writes with a welcome calm and spiritual grounding. This is so needed, as many have sought to understand the impact of all of this change on their vocations. Your Calling Here and Now is holistic in its approach, with a particular unpacking of the importance of community and organizational intelligence, and the effect of each on the vocational flourishing of every individual. Here anyone will find hope and practical guidance for navigating these challenging days, from a very wise and capable guide."
--Denise Easter, cofounder and executive director of Renewal Ministries Northwest
